Those wishing to file for municipal office for this fall's elections can do so at the County Clerk's office beginning Friday.
The last day to file is at noon, Aug. 17.
The Blytheville City Council has three seats up for grabs this November.
Both Ward 1 Councilman Monte Hodges and Ward 2 Councilwoman Shirley Overman have said they will not seek re-election. Meanwhile, Ward 3 Councilman Mylas Jeffers has yet to announce publicly if he will seek another term.
It appears, according to an Attorney General's opinion, the other three City Council members will not have to seek re-election, despite redrawing the ward lines last December. When Council members redrew the lines, they remained in their old wards.
Attorney General opinion number 2011-127 states, in part, "... redistricting does not affect the terms of those 'who remain in their old ward, or part thereof.' I believe the quoted language refers to incumbents who continue to meet the residency requirement following reapportionment. An exception to subsection (b)'s mandate that new aldermen be elected 'from each of the new wards' is therefore created to address the situation where ward boundaries are redrawn in such a way that redistricting does not result in incumbent aldermen being removed from their current wards. One of my predecessors addressed this situation and concluded that under those facts, 'the term of office of the aldermen who would normally not be up for re-election will not be affected ...'
"Any remaining doubt as to a possible internal conflict is dispelled by section 14- 43-311's legislative history. The language of subsection (c)(2) derives from Section 1 of Act 600 of 1973, which is entitled 'An Act to ... Provide for the Reapportionment of Ward Boundaries and the Election of New Aldermen and to Permit Incumbent Aldermen Who Remain in Their Old Ward or Part Thereof to Remain in Office....' (Emphasis added)."
According to the ruling, Council members Missy Langston (Ward 2), John Musgraves (Ward 3) and Stan Parks (Ward 1) will remain in office.
Meanwhile, the deadline to register to vote for municipal elections is the close of business Oct. 9.
Early voting will begin Oct. 22 and run through Nov. 5 -- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last day of early voting (Nov. 5).
Election Day is Nov. 6 with voting set for 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com