By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
The filing period starts at noon today and will end at noon Tuesday, Aug. 24 for city offices in Cabot, Beebe and Austin, where all candidates run as independents.
To file, each candidate needs a petition with 30 signatures of registered voters from their cities and these forms available from the county clerk: a notarized affidavit of eligibility and a signed political-practice pledge.
In Cabot, Alderman Eddie Cook, Bill Cypert, secretary and spokesman for the Cabot Water and Wastewater Commission, and former Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh have announced for mayor.
There have been no formal announcements for Cabot City Council, but longtime Alderman Ed Long, contacted Monday, said he will run for at least one more two-year term. Long said since the mayor will be new, some council members need to return for the sake of continuity.
Since Cook is running for mayor, his Ward 1, Position 2 seat is open. Alderman Patrick Hutton, Ward 2, Position 1; Alderman Jon Moore, Ward 2, Position 2; and Alderman Rick Prentice, Ward 3, Position 2, have all been observed gathering the 30 signatures they will need to run for re-election.
Alderman Ann Gilliam, Ward 4, Position 1, said Monday that she intends to file on Monday Aug. 9.
Alderman Lisa Brickell, Ward 4, Position 2, got married this week and is out of the country. Brickell, who has recently completed a degree in education, was absent from several meetings during the past two years and it is unknown if she intends to run for a third term.
Alderman Tom Armstrong’s Ward 3, Position 1 seat could be open. Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
Friends and family ran his successful campaign in 2008 against Stumbaugh. But Armstrong has been absent from most meetings since the last election.
Cabot Clerk-Treasurer Marva Verkler is not running for re-election. Norma Naquin, who runs the office at public works, has announced for that office as has Tammy Yocom, the city’s deputy clerk-treasurer.
In Beebe, Mayor Mike Robert-son announced several months ago that he would run for re-election.
Clerk-Treasurer Carol Crump-Westergren said Monday that she is running for a second four-year term and that all six council members have told her they will run for re-election: Harold Welch, Ward 1, Position 1; Linda Anthony, Ward 1, Position 2; Becky Short, Ward 2, Position 1; Tracy Lightfoot, Ward 2, Position 2; John Johnson, Ward 3, Position 1, and Les Cossey, Ward 3, Position 2.
Crump-Westergren said she has heard rumors that some of the council members may have competition for their seats, but so far she and the mayor have no opponents.
In Austin, Mayor Bernie Chamberlain, in office since 2000, says she plans to run again. So far no other candidate has announced, but Chamberlain said she thinks she will have an opponent.
Donna Soellner will not run again for Ward 1, Position 6.
James Moore, the developer and former Cabot alderman who moved to Austin, was appointed two months ago to the Ward 2, Position 2 seat held by Johnny McNair who moved to Ward. Moore said Monday that he will not run for the position.
These Austin officials are thought to be running for re-election the mayor said: Alderman Laurel Carnes, Ward 1, Position 3; Alderman Tammy Williams, Ward 2, Position 5; Alderman Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1, and Alderman Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
