By Staff
NILES - Though the actual election day won't come until May 3, those interested in becoming a candidate for their school board need to make a decision now.
A new election consolidation law requires persons interested in running for a seat on a local school board to file by Tuesday, Feb. 8, a full two months earlier than in the past.
Not all school elections will occur in May, as some boards adopted Nov. 8 for their election, but both the Niles and Brandywine Boards of Education will be holding elections on Tuesday, May 3.
Petition forms are now available in the office of the Niles Township Clerk, 320 Bell Road, Niles, for two board positions on the Brandywine School Board of Education, to be decided at the annual school election Tuesday, May 3..
The board seats are full four-year terms; current members holding those seats are Mike Armstrong and Philip Bozung.
Eligible citizens, who would like to run for the board, must have petition forms with 40 signatures submitted to the office of the Niles Township Clerk, no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
In lieu of signatures, interested candidates may pay a $100 filing fee. For information on board service or the election process, please contact Gary Rider, Superintendent, at 684-7150 extension 209.
The Niles Board of Education will also hold the annual school election on Tuesday, May 3. Petition forms are available in the office of the City Clerk, Ruth Heart, 508 E. Main, Niles, for one board position to be decided at the annual election. The board seat is a full four-year term.
Anyone who is a resident of the school district is eligible to run. Those who would like to run, must have petition forms with 40 signatures submitted to the office of the Niles City Clerk, no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
In lieu of the signatures, any candidate interested may pay a $100 filing fee. For information on board service or the election process, contact Douglas Law, Superintendent, at 683-0732.
The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB)'s annual guide to school elections details all the changes under the new law and explains all the requirements to get on the ballot.
For decades, school elections have been held on a Monday in mid-June with filing deadlines in April.
New key deadlines for citizens to file their forms are:
Tuesday, Feb. 8, 4 p.m. - Nominating petitions and affidavits of identity due. (A $100 non-refundable fee may be filed in lieu of a petition).
Friday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m. - Deadline for a written withdrawal.
Friday, April 29, 4 p.m. - Deadline for write-in candidates to file intent.
Under the new law, candidates must file their petitions with either their city or township clerk, or with the county clerk.
According to MASB's "2005 Candidates Guide to School Board Elections," where they file depends on what their school district boundaries are.
Key deadlines for intermediate school district board elections and campaign finance rules are also spelled out in the MASB guide.