BANGOR, Maine — It’s officially election season in the city. With the general election set for Nov. 3, Wednesday marked the first day would-be city councilors and school committee members could request nomination papers to appear on the ballot.
“I’ve had just one person so far, but it’s early,” said City Clerk Lisa Goodwin.
There is no fee, but would-be candidates must collect the signatures of at least 100 registered Bangor voters to qualify.
They can return their qualifying paperwork to the clerk’s office no earlier than Aug. 17 and no later than 4:30 p.m. Sept. 4, according to Goodwin.
Those whose terms expire this year include city councilors Patricia Blanchette, Pauline Civiello and David Nealley as well as school committee members Marc Eastman and Sarah Smiley.
Since Bangor’s elected officials do not run by district, the three council candidates and two school committee candidates with the greatest number of votes are considered the winners.
Blanchette, who has moved to Florida, is not expected to seek re-election this year. Nealley said Thursday evening that he has taken qualifying papers out. Civiello was not immediately available to discuss her plans.
In a prepared statement, Sarah Nichols, 25, of Bangor announced her candidacy for City Council. Nichols is a 2008 graduate of Bangor High School and a 2012 graduate of the University of Maine with a bachelor’s degree in new media.
She currently works as the development coordinator for St. Joseph’s Healthcare and plans to formally announce her candidacy during an event Aug. 26.
Follow Evan Belanger on Twitter at @evanbelanger.