By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
With the deadline for filling ballot vacancies quickly approaching, local Republicans have a full Decatur ballot with one exception: no candidate for mayor.
Local Democrats, meanwhile, have two Decatur city council ballot vacancies as well as that of clerk-treasurer.
By law, following the May primaries, if parties do not have candidates for certain offices, they have until noon on Monday, July 3, to fell those vacancies by “slating” candidates.
As of Thursday’s closing of the clerk’s office, Republicans had the one remaining opening on their Decatur ballot and Democrats had three.
Republicans filled their city council ballot Thursday with the filing of Leslie Reilly-Green (photo). She is seeking the Second District seat currently held by Democrat Tyler Fullenkamp, who has filed for a new term.
That sets up races for three council seats: Reilly-Green vs. Fullenkamp, Jenny Bowers-Schultz (D) vs. Gina Melcher (R) for the First District seat, and incumbent Matt Dyer (R) vs. Jennifer Hitchcock (D) for the lone at-large seat on council.
Republican Scott Murray is unopposed for the District 4 seat he currently holds and Republican Abby Wilder has no opposition for the District 3 seat (again, as of Thursday night).
Melcher edged incumbent Wylie Sirk and Wilder upset incumbent Craig Coshow in the Republican primary election in May.
Another Republican, Kevin Hackman, is unopposed for the office of clerk-treasurer.
The only unopposed Democrat is Mayor Dan Rickord, seeking a second four-year term.
The general election in scheduled for Tuesday, November 7.