Friday at noon marks the end of the qualifying period for candidates hoping to claim one of the three commission seats up for grabs in the April 13 City of Alachua election.
For the first time, citizens will vote for the mayor directly this year, instead of the commissioners selecting among themselves as has been done in the past. That comes after electors amended the city’s charter last year, converting Commission Seat 1, currently held by Commission Jean Calderwood, to the mayor’s seat.
Mayor Bonnie Burgess has not indicated an interest in seeking re-election to her expiring commission seat, Seat 2. Though Burgess has been selected by her fellow-commissioners to be Alachua’s mayor, that practice will officially end with the 2010 election when voters make the choice.
Both Seat 1 and Seat 2 are up for full three-year terms. Seat 3, being vacated by Coerper’s resignation will expire in April 2011, meaning this year voters will elect a candidate to fill that spot for one year.
Ben Boukari Jr. was the only candidate to qualify for Seat 3 and Robert Wilford was the only candidate to qualify for Seat 2 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Also as of press time on Wednesday, Gib Coerper was the only candidate to qualify so far to run for the mayor’s seat, Seat 1.
Anyone interested in qualifying as a candidate for one of the commission seats has until noon on Friday to do so. To qualify, candidates must be a citizen of Alachua, pay a $165 State of Florida election assessment fee and a $25 qualifying fee to the City of Alachua. Candidates must also complete a loyalty oath, appoint a campaign treasurer and file a host of qualifying forms.