Prospective candidates may pick up nominating petition
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer

JACKSON - Residents who want to run for a seat on the Jackson Township Council in the May 13 nonpartisan municipal election may step up to the plate now.N

ominating petitions are available during regular business hours at the township clerk's office in the municipal building, 95 West Veterans Highway.

The council seats presently held byAngelo Stallone, Emily Ingram and Jason Gudaitis will be on the ballot. There is no limit to the number of residents who may seek a seat on the township's governing body. The top three vote-getters in the May 13 election will begin serving their four-year terms on July 1.

Stallone, Ingram and Gudaitis were among the winners when Jackson switched from a township committee form of government to a mayor and township council form of government in 2006. Their initial council terms were for two years.

Councilwoman Ann Updegrave, Councilman Scott Martin and Mayor Mark Seda will remain in office for another two years until June 30, 2010. A municipal election to be held in May 2010 will see those positions up for grabs on the ballot.

Under Jackson's nonpartisan form of government there are no primary elections and candidates do not have to have the backing of a political party in order to run for public office.All that is needed is a nominating petition with the required number of signatures.

"The petitions have been ready since Jan. 7," municipal clerk Ann Marie Eden said. "Whoever comes in gets a packet and signs for it. It doesn't necessarily mean that the person who comes in to pick up the packet is the candidate."

Any Jackson resident who wants to run for a seat on the council this year will be required to obtain 306 valid signatures on his or her petition. The figure 306 is based on 1 percent of the number of registered voters in the township at the time of the previous general election.

The nominating petitions must be returned to the clerk's office by 4 p.m.March 20. The nonpartisan municipal election will be held on May 13, Eden said.

"Most of the petitions come in a week before the deadline. Some come in a few days before the deadline or even on the deadline day," she said.

After the nominating petitions have been received all of the signatures on each petition will be checked to make certain they are valid.Alist of certified candidates will be available within 10 days after the March 20 deadline.

The candidates will then have about seven weeks to present themselves to the public and to ask people to vote for them for a seat on Jackson's governing body.