It's Election Season In Ruston

Monday is the official start of the election season. Ruston will choose three council members (a majority of the 5-member council) and the mayor this fall. Election results could mean another dramatic shift in direction, or endorse the direction of the current majority.

Up for grabs are:

• Council Position 1, currently held by Dan Albertson. Albertson was appointed to the position in December 2007 to fill the last two years of Bob Pudlo's unexpired term. The person elected to this position will serve 4 years.
• Council Position 2, currently held by Wayne Stebner. Stebner was elected to this seat 4 years ago. This is the only position that has not been vacated by a resignation. The person elected to the seat will serve 4 years.
• Council Position 4, currently held by C. Jane Krock Hunt. Hunt was appointed to this seat in February 2008. Any appointment only lasts until the next regular election. In this case, Hunt's appointment was for the first half of the 4-year term. The person elected to this position will serve the remaining two years for Position 4 (until the next regular election cycle in 2011).
• Mayor, currently held by Bruce Hopkins. Hopkins was appointed last November after the mayor's seat sat vacant for several months. Council Member Bradley Huson acted as Mayor Pro-tem until Hopkins was appointed. The vote this fall will fill the unexpired term until 2011 only.

Candidates must file for election before Friday, June 5th at 4:30 pm at the county elections office. Updates on who files for which position will be posted here as soon as possible. Remember that candidates can change during the week; it's only the names on the dotted line at the end of the day Friday that count.

More information on how to file for office is available on the elections main page. Filing fees for the Ruston council positions are $10 each and $60 for the mayor's position.