Deadline is today, candidates

Candidates for city council and fire district seats have until 5 p.m. today to file.

But waiting until the last minute could backfire.

According to Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon, potential candidates must start and finalize their paperwork at their fire district office or their city hall.

“Before a candidate can file, the original petition of candidacy must be submitted to the County Elections Office to verify voter signatures before submitting the petition and declaration of candidacy to the appropriate clerk of the district,” Brannon said Thursday.

He said fire district candidates must gather signatures of registered voters on their candidacy petitions. City candidates, however, have the option to pay a $40 fee in lieu of gathering signatures, if they wish.

For more information, call the fire district or city hall whose phone numbers appear on your property tax notice, or phone Kootenai County Elections at (208) 446-1030.