With qualifying for municipal elections just a month away for Brewton and East Brewton offices, at least two Brewton mayoral candidates have raised nearly $20,000 in anticipation of campaign activity.
As required by law, any candidate who passes a $1,000 threshold of contributions must file a campaign finance report with the county’s probate office.
Brewton mayoral candidates Yancey Edwin Lovelace Sr., and Frank M. Nalty Jr., have both met that threshold and have filed the required reports.
Lovelace has shown $12,750 in contributions and receipts, while Nalty reported $5,000 in receipts for his campaign fund.
Lovelace shows expenditures of $8,407.94 in expenses while Nalty reported $3,126.61 in expenses so far in the campaign for the seat.
David Jennings has also announced his candidacy for the office of mayor for Brewton; however, finance reports for Jennings have not been filed.
In East Brewton, current mayor Terry Clark has said he will run for the office hoping for a sixth term in office.
Although other individuals have indicated their desire to run for office in both Brewton and East Brewton, no other candidacy will be made official until the qualifying period opens.
Brewton City Clerk John Angel said the qualifying period for candidates will last only nine days for the upcoming municipal election.
“Qualifying will be from July 3 through July 17 at 5 p.m.,” Angel said. “With the July 4 holiday and weekends during that time, there will be only nine days.”
Council seats in both Brewton and East Brewton are filled at each election with only a slight difference in offices noted between the two cities.
East Brewton City Clerk Karen Singleton said candidates for council seats in East Brewton campaign a little differently from those in Brewton.
“Brewton’s council members are elected based on their district of residence,” Singleton said. “In East Brewton, our council members are at-large candidates. We have five council seats up for election this year and every election year.”
Those interested in qualifying for any seat on the council or for the mayor’s office in either city must file qualification forms in order to be placed on the ballot, Angel said.
“Every candidate must have been a resident in the city limits for at least 90 days before qualifying,” Angel said. “They must also be a registered voter in the city for at least 30 days to qualify.”
No city council member in either city has officially announced their intentions to seek re-election. No opponents for any seat have come forth at this time.
Current Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings previously announced he would retire from his position at the end of the current term in office. Current Brewton city council members up for possible re-election are Dennis Dunaway, Frank Cotton, Cary Barton, Joe Watson and Fred Barton.
Current East Brewton council members up for possible re-election are Byron Palmer, Bob Arrant, Ludon Simmons, Kenny Hultz and Ned Sibert.
Municipal elections will be held Aug. 28 with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Brewton and East Brewton.
A list of polling locations is available at each city hall.