Filing set for seats in wards

6 up for election, as is LR’s mayor

The Little Rock city clerk's office will begin accepting applications for some Board of Directors seats and the mayor position Friday.

The filing period runs from 8 a.m. Friday to noon Aug. 15. City directors and the mayor serve four-year terms, and those elected Nov. 4 will take office Jan. 1, for terms expiring Dec. 31, 2018.

To qualify, a person must have been a resident of Little Rock for at least 30 days, be 21 or older, be a registered voter and submit a petition signed by at least 50 qualified voters in the city. Application packets are available in the city clerk's office at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St.

The mayoral position and six board seats are up for election this year. Mayor Mark Stodola and five of the city directors are running for re-election.

The incumbent city directors are Ward 1's Erma Hendrix, Ward 2's Ken Richardson, Ward 3's Stacy Hurst, Ward 5's Lance Hines, Ward 6's Doris Wright and Ward 7's B.J. Wyrick. Hurst has announced her candidacy for District 35 state representative.

Three at-large city director seats and the Ward 4 seat held by Brad Cazort are not up for election this year.

City directors are paid $18,000 annually and receive a monthly office allowance of $250. Stodola makes $160,000 annually.

Stodola announced last week his intent to run for a third four-year term. No one else has publicly announced a run for the position. He was first elected in 2006 for a term that began the next year.

Ward 1 includes downtown and east Little Rock. It also stretches south along Interstate 530 and has a western boundary of South Elm Street. Hendrix has been the ward's city director since 2007. She was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1993.

Ward 2 spans from Interstate 630 south to Little Fourche Creek near Arch Street. It includes the area from South University Avenue, and farther on from Geyer Springs Road, east to Interstate 530. Richardson has held the Ward 2 position since 2007 and is finishing up his second term.

Ward 3 stretches from Interstate 630 north to the Arkansas River and east from Mississippi Street to Gill Street. It includes War Memorial Park. Hurst has been the ward's representative since 2003.

Ward 5 is the extreme western city district that meets the county. Hines is finishing his first term as the Ward 5 city director, which he began in 2011.

Ward 6 represents west-central Little Rock. It encompasses neighborhoods to the south of Kanis Road and stretches from University Avenue west to the Pulaski County line. It also includes the area south of Rodney Parham Road to Fourche Creek near Colonel Glenn Road. Wright has been the ward's representative since 2007 and is currently serving as vice mayor.

Ward 7 is southwest Little Rock and covers neighborhoods south of Colonel Glenn Road to County Line Road, and west of Geyer Springs Road to Alexander Road. It includes the Otter Creek area. Wyrick has continuously been re-elected to the Board of Directors since 1994.

Applicants to the elected offices can submit their filings to City Clerk Susan Langley anytime during normal business hours during the filing period.

Metro on 07/24/2014

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