5 positions open in Yuma elections

Nomination packets are now available for those who want to seek elected office with the city of Yuma during the upcoming primary and general elections.

Five positions are open: city mayor, three council seats and one presiding municipal judge seat.

City of Yuma elections are nonpartisan.

Candidate nomination packets are available from the Office of the City Clerk, located on the first floor east side of Yuma City Hall, One City Plaza.

The candidate manual includes information regarding qualifications for office, the number of valid signatures required, financial disclosure statements and political action committees.

On their nomination petitions, candidates need at least 238 signatures and no more than 396. Those signing petitions must be qualified voters in the city. April 29 is the first day that candidates can file nomination documents; the deadline is 5 p.m. May 29.

Those who have picked up packets so far include Richard Gellar for presiding judge, Douglas Nicholls and Jack Kretzer for mayor, and Keith C. Parsels and Gary Knight for council.

Incumbents include Mayor Alan L. Krieger; Councilmembers Paul B. Johnson, Jerry Stuart and Bobbi Lewis; and Douglas Stanley, presiding municipal judge.

The city's primary election will be held Aug. 27 to nominate candidates for the positions. Candidates may be elected to office in the primary if they receive 50 percent plus one vote among ballots cast.

The general election will be held Nov. 5 to elect candidates in the event that seats remain open following results of the primary election.

Those elected to these positions would each serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

Salaries for the positions are $12,000 for mayor, $3,600 for councilmembers and $112,000 for the judge.

More information is available at www.yumaaz.gov/elections or call the clerk's office at 373-5035.

Voter registration for city elections is conducted by the Yuma County Recorder's Office. Mail-in registration forms (postage paid) are available at the Yuma County Recorder's Office, the City Clerk's Office, and at other locations throughout the community such as banks, post offices and the public library.

Voters must register by July 29 for the primary election and by Oct. 7 for the general election.