Friday at noon is deadline to file for municipal election

POLK COUNTY—Residents of Columbus, Saluda and Tryon have until noon Friday to file for seats on their councils. 

Residents must file at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus prior to the deadline. 

So far, only one challenger has filed in all three towns. The rest to file as of Thursday morning were all incumbents. 

Saluda has had only one person file for two open council seats as of Thursday morning. 

In Columbus, Patrick McCool filed for mayor and incumbents Richard Hall, Margaret Metcalf and Mark Phillips have filed to retain their seats as well as Ernie Kan filing for a council seat. 

In Tryon, incumbent mayor Alan Peoples filed to retain his seat along with incumbent commissioners Cry Armbrust and Chrelle Booker filing to retain their seats. 

In Tryon, incumbent commissioner Stanley Walker is the only one to file as of Thursday morning. 

Filing for this year’s municipal election began on July 5. 

In Columbus, the seat of the mayor and three council seats are up for re-election. 

Mayor Eric McIntyre had not filed for reelection as of Thursday. 

In Saluda, the council seats of Leon Morgan and Walker are up for re-election. 

Morgan had not filed for re-election as of Thursday morning. 

In Tryon, Mayor Peoples is up for re-election as well as the council seats of Armbrust and Booker. 

The 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. There are no primaries for municipal elections and candidates run non-partisan. 

Saluda will elect commissioners and have a special referendum this year regarding alcohol sales. The referendum will ask Saluda voters if they are for or against permitting the sale of mixed beverages in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theatres and convention centers. 

To file for a municipal seat in Polk County, candidates must live within the city limits of the town/city they are running and pay a $5 filing fee.