MURFREESBORO — Four candidates for the city’s April 15 election had qualified by today, according to the Rutherford County Election Commission.
They included mayoral candidate Shane McFarland, who serves on the Murfreesboro City Council; Councilwoman Madelyn Scales Harris, who seeks to keep her seat; council candidate Candy Roberts Joyce; and City Board of Education candidate Novonda Lilly.
“Over the last month and half we have just been been getting organized, and we are really excited,” said McFarland, a councilman since 2006. “The response has been extremely positive. We are looking forward to the campaign and looking forward to getting to the ways that we can make Murfreesboro an even better place to live.”
McFarland hopes to succeed Mayor Tommy Bragg, who announced recently he would not seek another term. Vice Mayor Ron Washington has said he’s weighing a possible run for mayor and plans to qualify for the election.
To qualify, candidates for city offices must pick up petitions from the election commission office on the south side of the Public Square near South Church Street and return the completed petitions by noon Jan. 16. A petition must have at least 25 signatures from registered voters who reside within the city.
Voters will elect three candidates to the council and three to the school board, as well as the mayor, who votes as one of the seven on the council and presides over meetings.