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Municipal election filing has just one challenger

POLK COUNTY—Local town and city residents have only 2 days left to file for the 2021 municipal election. 

There has only been one challenger throw their name in the hat and that is for Columbus Town Council. All others who had filed since Tuesday were incumbents in all three Polk County towns. 

Filing opened on Friday, July 2 and 6 people filed that day. Since the first day of filing, 3 more people have filed, all incumbents. 

The first day of filing included all incumbents in Tryon, which are mayor Alan Peoples and councilmen Bill Crowell and Bill Ingham. No one else has filed in Tryon as challengers. 

The first day also included Columbus Mayor Pat McCool and challenger for council Becky Kennedy. Since, incumbent councilman Mark Phillips has filed for Columbus. 

Also on the first day, Saluda commissioner Paul Marion filed, and since, Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden and commissioner Mark Oxtoby have filed, but no challengers. 

There is still one slot open for Columbus council as incumbents Richard Hall or Robert Williamson had not filed for re-election as of deadline Tuesday. 

Filing for the municipal election is open until Friday, July 16 at 12 p.m. Filing can be done at the Polk County Board of Elections Office, located on the second floor of the Womack building in Columbus. 

In the Town of Columbus, the mayor seat is open for a 2-year term and 3 council seats available. The top vote getter for council will receive a 4-year term and the next 2 will receive 2-year terms. 

In the City of Saluda, the mayor seat and 2 commissioner seats are available. 

The mayor seat in Saluda is a 4-year term as well as the 2 commissioner seats. 

In the Town of Tryon, the mayor seat is open as well as 2 commissioner seats. The mayor seat in Tryon is for 2 years, while the 2 commissioner seats are 4-year terms. 

The filing fee for the municipal seats in Polk County are $5 to be paid at the time of filing. 

Election Day for the municipal election is Nov. 2, 2021. 

For more information about the municipal election this year or to see who has filed, visit polknc.org or call the elections office at 828-894-8181. The board of elections is updating the latest filings on the county’s website every day at 5 p.m.