SEBASTIAN – City of Sebastian residents can officially get started in the qualification process to run for the City Council this November. Residents have until Sept. 3 to file their application and pay the requisite filing fee.
This year’s municipal election has two open seats. Council members Mayor Richard Gillmor and Vice Mayor Jim Hill’s seats are up. Both Gillmor and Hill have filed for re-election.
Only one other Sebastian resident has announced his intent to seek a seat on the dais – Harvey Wheeler.
All three have pre-qualified and are expected to finish their qualification requirements during the qualifying period.
Last year’s municipal election, which had three seats open, saw eight candidates vying for the dais.
How many candidates this year’s election will garner is anyone’s guess.
City Clerk Sally Maio serves as the city’s Supervisor of Elections. She will be taking qualification papers during regular business hours beginning today until 4:30 p.m. Sept. 3.
Sebastian holds municipal elections every year. On even-numbered years, such as 2010, the city elects two council members. On odd-numbered years, three council members are elected.
Next year, Council members Andrea Coy, Don Wright and Eugene Wolff’s seats will be up for election.
Council members serve 2-year terms and there are no term limits. Council seats are at-large and are non-partisan.
In order to run for council, candidates have to have lived within the city limits for at least one year from Sept. 3, 2010.
Anyone considering running for a City Council seat should contact City Clerk Sally Maio by e-mailing her at smaio@cityofsebastian.org or calling (772) 388-8214.
