NORMAN — Filing for Norman City Council Wards 1, 3, 5, 7 and Norman Mayor will be Jan. 14-16 at the Cleveland County Election Board, 641 E. Robinson in Norman. The 2013 election calendar includes school board elections, municipal elections and candidate filing dates.

“In order to become a candidate, they have to file a declaration of candidacy form,” said Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams. “The form is available at our office, but it has to be notarized before it can be accepted. We’re not allowed to notarize those forms here at our office.”

Moore, Slaughterville and Lexington city filings will run Feb. 4-6, also at the election board. Moore will fill positions for Wards 1, 2, and 3.

“Filing is open during regular business hours from eight to five on that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” Williams said.

Noble city candidates mostly likely will file for Wards 1 and 3 on Feb. 11-13.

“We haven’t gotten the election resolution from Noble yet, but those are the dates we anticipate,” Williams said.

As of December, county records indicate there are 71,687 registered Republican voters, 67,166 registered Democrat voters, and 21,299 Independent voters for a total of 160,141 registered voters in Cleveland County.

The Cleveland County Election Board will be closed Monday and Tuesday to welcome the New Year.

“We had a holiday to make up so we’re closing on Monday for New Year’s Eve even though the county courthouse is open that day,” Williams said.

County and city offices will, of course, be closed on New Year’s Day.

The first election of the year will be the annual school election slated for Feb. 12.

“There is early voting on Friday and Monday before the election,” Williams said. “Both Friday and Monday the voting hours are from eight until six.”

Early voting is only at the Election Board Office, 641 E. Robinson in Norman.

On Feb. 12, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the affected precincts.

In Norman School District, running for a 5-year term are Cindy Nashert and Gary L. Barksdale. Running for Moore Norman Technology Center, Zone 3, also a 5-year term, are Andy Sherrer and Tammy Maus.

“In addition to any board member races that are on the ballot, Moore Public Schools and Moore Norman Technology Center both have special bond issues on the ballot,” Williams said. “There are two different propositions for Moore.”

Moore Schools has a bond issue for $122 million to “provide funds for the purpose of improving or acquiring school sites, constructing, repairing, remodeling and equipping school buildings and acquiring school furniture, fixtures and equipment” according to ballot language.

The second proposition for Moore Schools is $4 million for transportation equipment.

Moore Norman Technology Center has two propositions regarding a one mill levy. The first proposition is a building fund levy to provide funds for “the erecting, remodeling, or repairing of school buildings, maintenance of the buildings, purchasing furniture and equipment and software fro instructional and non-instruction purposes, for purchasing energy and telecommunications utilities, for paying fire and casualty insurance premiums for school facilities, for purchasing security systems and for paying salaries of security personnel,” according to the ballot language.

The second proposition is to make this building fund levy permanent.

Spring is a busy time for municipal elections based on the Cleveland County Election Board calendar including:

· March — City of Moore Primary, Oklahoma City Primary

· April 2 — City of Norman Primary, City of Moore General (if needed), Noble General, Oklahoma City General (if needed), Slaughterville General, Lexington General

· May 14 — City of Norman General (if needed)

At least one candidate for mayor of Norman has already declared with more expected. Norman businessman Tom Sherman announced his intent to run for mayor in November. Sherman retired from McClain Bank, a family owned business, in 2010. He completed his year as chair of the Norman Chamber then decided to go back to work and is currently the controller for Fowler Holding Company.

Many expect current Mayor Cindy Rosenthal to run again, but Rosenthal has not formally thrown her hat into the ring at this time. Some say there could be a third mayoral candidate as well.

Joy Hampton366-3539jhampton@normantranscript.com

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.