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By: Ora Nelson

Qualifying for municipal elections in Covington County opened up this week.

The applications for city offices opened up on July 7 and will close on July 21 and the application packets can be found at the municipalities’ city halls.

The city of Opp has several that have already filed their applications:

Becky Bracke (incumbent) and John Bartholomew are both running for mayor.

Both Chad Jackson and Bobby Ray Owens will be running for city council, District 1.

T D Morgan and Charlotte Hunt will be running for city council, District 2.

So far, only one person, Gary Strickland, will be running for city council, District 3.

Skip Spurlin will be running for city council, District 5.

Red Level’s mayor, Willie J. Hendrix, will be running for reelection.

In Florala, Terry Holley will be running for mayor again.

Gail Robin will be running for city council, District 2.

As of July 7, no one has yet qualified in Sanford, Gantt or River Falls.

In Andalusia, all incumbents qualified for reelection, District 1, Will Sconiers, District 2, Kennith Mount, District 3, Hazel Griffin, District 4, Ralph Wells and District 5, Terry Powell.

Michael Veasy also qualified to run in District 2.

To become a candidate, a person must submit a declaration of candidacy and a statement of economic interest.

According to the Fair Campaign Practices Act: Candidate Filing Guide for Alabama, the law requires every candidate to organize a campaign finance committee within five days of

becoming a candidate.

“If they [candidates] are running and receive funds, they have to do an account of whatever funds they receive and receipts [of purchases made with the funds],” said Shereakia Lee, River Falls city clerk.

Further requirements and qualifications, along with a timeline of due dates, can be found at the Alabama Secretary of State website, www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/candidates/candidate-resources.

**All lists of candidates are preliminary and not official.