Filing begins in January for local May elections

FERRIS – With the new year just around the corner local elections for city council and school boards are on the horizon.

Applications to run for local office will be available in most cities beginning mid-January.

In Ferris, interested citizens wanting to run for local office can file beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15 to Friday, Feb. 14, 2020.

Other cities in the area have the same schedule for filing.

Applications can be picked up at city hall or by calling city hall for details about what seats are open and what the procedure for filing is in that area.

The Texas Secretary of State website reads:

“Requirements for local offices (municipalities, school districts, other districts) in Texas vary according to the political subdivision.

Therefore, you must contact the political subdivision where you are interested in running for office for qualification requirements, filing periods and other relevant information.

At a minimum, you will be required to file an application for place on the ballot with your political subdivision.”

In municipal elections, an application must be filed with the city secretary.

The Secretary of State website also notes some municipalities may require their candidates to file a petition with a certain number of signatures along with the application.

For school district elections current state law requires a candidate for trustee of an independent school district to be a qualified voter by the time required by the election code.

An application for place on the ballot must be filed with the secretary of the school district board.

For all other district elections as applicable an application must also be submitted for a place on the ballot and filed with the secretary of the district board.

If you want to see change in your city then be the person who makes the decision to take part in making that change happen.