Deadline to file as candidate for special districts is Friday

A number of special districts in Washington County, including library, highway and hospital districts, will elect board members and trustees at a consolidated election run by the county on May 21.

 There is a deadline coming up for all prospective candidates who plan to seek one of the offices. A declaration of candidacy and a petition of candidacy must be filled out and returned to the respective special district offices by 5 p.m. this Friday, March 22. 

 Declarations and petitions for candidacy can be picked up at the special district offices or at the county clerk’s office at the Washington County Courthouse in Weiser.

 To get on the ballot for the May 21 election, a candidate must collect the signatures of five registered voters in the district. The petition must be notarized before it is submitted to the clerk of the special district in which the candidate is running for office.

 Many of the offices up for election in May don’t get a whole lot of attention during an off-election year but are vital in governing the many special taxing districts in the county.  

 There is one trustee position on the Cambridge Free Library District. The term of office is six years.

 The Midvale Free Library District has two trustees positions up for election. The terms of office are six years.

 Two commissioner positions on the Weiser Valley Highway District will be on the ballot. Both are four-year terms. Candidates must live in the district they seek to represent.

 The Weiser Valley Hospital District will have three trustee positions up for election. The trustees serve as the governing board for Weiser Memorial Hospital. The terms of office for trustees are six years.

 The deadline for any candidate to withdraw before the May 21 election is 5 p.m. on April 8. 

 Individuals who seek to run as write-in candidates must file a declaration of intent by 5 p.m. on April 8.

 In addition to the May 21 election for elected offices in the special districts noted above, there will be a general election in November for other offices. 

 In odd-numbered years, county voters will also elect officials to serve on cemetery, fire protection, recreation and school board trustees.

 The county clerk’s office also will run city elections in Weiser, Midvale and Cambridge on Nov. 5. Only residents of those respective incorporated cities can run for office and only residents can vote in city elections.

 The filing for city offices is a few months away. In addition to the mayor’s office, there will be three seats on the Weiser City Council up for election. Filing for city offices begins Aug. 26 and ends Sept. 6.

 The same process is followed with prospective candidates filling out and submitting a declaration of candidacy.

 In addition to voting in the municipal election, Cambridge residents will be asked on the May 21 ballot to approve up to $1.75 million in revenue bonds to pay for improvements to the municipal water system. Approval of the ballot measure requires a simple majority of votes in favor of it. 

 The Cambridge School District is also planning to run a plant and facilities levy on May 21. The details were to be released following the Cambridge School Board meeting on March 18.