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Time for the campaigning
Election year ready to begin in Williams

It may become an interesting year in Williams, thanks to a slate of candidates who have lined up for election bids in March. A number of individuals have thrown in their proposal for seats on Williams City Council, while two are seeking the office of Williams' mayor. Incumbent Mayor Ken Edes and current city council member John Moore are both seeking the position. Those running for city council positions include Walt Eastland, Frank McNelly and Bill Miller. Vice Mayor Bernie Heimenz and council member Jim (Doc) Wurgler are both seeking re-election. Moore's bid for the mayor's seat, however, will leave a vacancy on city council that will be filled in the upcoming election.

"The people who pulled the packets and didn't submit their papers would be Jason Moore and Mr. (James) Briehan. I believe everybody else who pulled a packet did file papers and so we have Ken Edes and John Moore for mayor. We have two incumbents for council, Doc Wurgler and Bernie Heimenz and we have three newcomers for the council seats, Frank McNelly, Bill Miller and Walt Eastland. That's not going to change, because the deadline has already come and gone," said Williams Interim City Clerk and Planner Harry Holmes, adding that some campaigning has already begun, though quietly.

"They're able to use this time to campaign if they so desire," Holmes said. "Probably some of them have hit the streets and some others have decided to wait until later. They're going to campaign with their constituents personally."

While there are no debates scheduled between the candidates, interviews with each nominee are planned for future editions of the Williams-Grand Canyon News.

"Interviews with the candidates have appeared to present their views on the issues," Holmes said. "That's what stands in lieu of a debate."

A forum is also slated that will host the election candidates, though a firm date has not been set. The forum is sponsored in conjunction with the News and the Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce. Williams Judge Bill Sutton Jr. will moderate the meeting, which planners hope to hold sometime in early February.

Holmes said the election would be handled through the Coconino County Elections Department. Members of the Williams City Council voted to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the department during their regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 13.

"The IGA was approved in council. It's been signed, it's got to be signed by the city attorney, and then it goes back to them (county elections department) and they take care of the election for us. They have staff and the expertise to do elections and we don't, so typically we let them do it for us," Holmes said. "They recruit poll workers, they train poll workers, they run the precinct operation or the city-wide operation at the polling place."

City officials will canvas the votes following the March 11 election, Holmes said.

"The next thing for us to do on the next available date right after the elections is to

canvas the votes. The council would do that probably at a regularly scheduled meeting," Holmes said.

Members of Williams City Council meet March 13, two days following the March 11 election.

"It's possible they would canvas the votes then," Holmes added. "They have to do it by the end of March."

According to Coconino County election information, the first date to request an early ballot for the March 11 city elections, covering Williams, Flagstaff, Fredonia and Sedona, was Dec. 10. Early voting begins Feb. 7 and ends March 7. Anyone interested in registering to vote has until February 11 for the city primary election. Interested parties can register online at the county's Web site at www.coconino.az.gov.


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