While most of the election attention is focused on the upcoming August general election, potential candidates for the November Elizabethton municipal election are also preparing for their race.
Election Administrator Tracy Harris said prospective candidates have already been coming into the Carter County Election Commission office to pick up the necessary documentation to be placed on the November city ballot.
In the November municipal election, voters will be asked to select four City Council candidates and two Board of Education members for the city of Elizabethton. In the city of Watauga, two commissioners will be selected through the election.
The seats that will be opened during the election are those held by Elizabethton City Council members Nancy Alsup, Bill Carter, Sam Shipley and Richard Tester; Board of Education members Catherine Armstrong and Connie Baker; and Watauga commissioners Delisa LaFleur and Mickey Fair.
Harris said interested candidates for City Council must be a resident of the city and have a petition signed by at least 25 city residents. Board of Education candidates need to have a high school diploma, be a city resident and receive at least 25 signatures. Candidates for the Watauga election need to live in the city of Watauga and have signatures from at least 25 Watauga city residents.
The deadline to file qualifying paperwork for the city election is Aug. 21 at noon.