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Not everyone looks good in red or blue

Nan Chalat Noaker, The Park Record

While local Democratic and Republican Party leaders shake the bushes looking for candidates to run for one of four seats on the Summit County Council, some citizens may be looking for other ways to get on November’s ballot.

According to Summit County Clerk Kent Jones unaffiliated residents and those who align themselves with several less well known parties may also register as candidates during the upcoming filing window which runs March 11-17.

To run as an unaffiliated candidate, a person must submit a petition with signatures from a minimum of 300 supporters. The first step is to stop by the clerk’s office in Coalville to pick up an official petition packet. The petitioner must be a registered voter and live in Summit County, and the signatures must be turned in by 5 p.m. on March 17.

In addition to the Democratic and Republican parties, the state of Utah recognizes three other Qualified Political Parties: the Constitution Party, the Libertarian Party and the Independent American Party. Those who want to file on those tickets do not need to submit petitions or go through the major-party caucus process. But, Jones cautions, those candidates are not guaranteed a spot on the ballot. The party could be disqualified if there is no one else running for the other offices on the ballot.

The Green Party, for instance is not currently listed by the state as a Qualified Political Party so anyone on that ticket would be required to gather signatures.

All candidates for county council, regardless of political affiliation must pay the $213.69 filing fee, which is based on a percentage of the job’s annual salary.

The candidate filing window is open from 8 a.m. on Friday, March 11 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. Other offices on November’s ballot include:

Federal:

President (4-year term)

Vice President (4-year term)

Senate (6-year term)

House of Representatives (2-year term)

State:

Attorney General (4-year term)

Auditor (4-year term)

Governor (4-year term)

Lieutenant Governor (4-year term)

Treasurer (4-year term)

State Senate Distric t 19 (4-year term)

State House Representative Distric t 28 (2-year term)

State House Representative Distric t 53 (2-year term)

State House Representative District 54 (2-year term)

State Board of Education District 7 (4-year term)

State Board of Education District 12 (4-year term)

County:

County Council Seat A (4-year term)

County Council Seat B (4-year term)

County Council Seat C (4-year term)

County Council Seat E (2-year term)

Boards of Education:*

Park City School District 3 seats (4-year terms)

North Summit School District 3 seats (4-year terms)

South Summit School District 3 seats (4-year terms)

*The school board races are nonpartisan and candidates are not required to declare a party affiliation or file petitions of support.

Summit County


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