Political Filings Opened Tuesday, April Election Not Far Away

Tuesday marked the start of the 2011 election season as filings opened for municipal, school board and fire district elections.

City of Hazelwood Clerk, Colleen Wolf, said that filings began the morning of Dec. 14 at 8a.m. She said she didn't expect a large crowd of people coming in to file throughout the month span.

"All incumbents have picked up petitions to file," she said. "So far no other residents have picked up packets (to file for city council)."

Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8 council seats are up for the April 5 election. That means council members Robert Aubuchon, Mike Conley, Warren (Butch) Taylor and Mary Singleton all have to file for re-election to retain their council seats.

By 11 a.m., only one incumbent candidate had filed to run for city council, Ward 2 Councilman Robert Aubuchon; however Wolf said the filing has yet to be certified.

"We have to verify the signatures on the petition so it's not certified yet," she said.

Nominating petitions for ward council seat have to be signed by no less than 25 and no more than 50 registered voters eligible to vote for the candidate.  These petitions must then be filed with Wolf by January 18 at 5p.m.

As for the Hazelwood School Board, three seats expire in 2011. Charles Woods, board director; Ann Gibbons, treasurer and Diane Dowdy, board secretary will all have to file for re-election to retain their seats.

As of publish time, Hazelwood School District Assistant Superintendent of Communications, Diana Gulotta confirmed that all three incumbents have filed.