ALPENA – With the July 21 filing deadline approaching for two open seats on the Alpena Municipal Council, Mayor Cindy Johnson is urging residents who want to shape their community’s future to step forward and consider running for local office.

The nonpartisan seats, each carrying a four-year term, will be decided by voters in the Nov. 3 general election. As of early July, two candidates have submitted completed nominating petitions. These candidates include appointed Councilmember Kevin Currier and Mayor Pro Tem Karol Walchak. Three others have picked up petition packets from the City Clerk’s office but have not yet turned in completed filings, Johnson said.

Currier was appointed to the council in January of last year to finish the unexpired term of Johnson’s after she was elected mayor in November 2024. Walchak’s seat is a regularly expiring term.

Johnson emphasized that vacancies and turnover do not threaten the city’s stability.

“Whether current members or new members fill the seats, open seats do not affect continuity; the government is designed to work as seats change,” Johnson said. “We all pull together to make the transition easy for any new members.”

Johnson encouraged anyone with a strong desire to serve their community to consider running.

“I encourage anyone considering serving in local government to look for open seats during elections and run for them,” Johnson said. “Local government affects our quality of life, and your participation can make a difference.”

“The open seats on the council are nonpartisan, four-year terms, and offer potential candidates the opportunity to help shape the city’s future,” Johnson added.

Candidates must file at the City Clerk’s office inside City Hall by 4 p.m. on July 21. A complete packet includes two original copies of the Affidavit of Identity, a Statement of Organization filed with the Alpena County Clerk, and nominating petitions bearing between 50 and 75 valid signatures of registered Alpena voters. City charter rules set the minimum at 50 signatures. Filing early is recommended so candidates have time to collect more signatures if needed.

“It does not matter who runs for office; ultimately, it is the voters who choose the direction of their community,” Johnson said. “Voting is easy and helps us shape the community we choose to live in.”

Eligibility requirements under the city charter include being a registered elector of Alpena who has lived in the city for at least one year, not being in default on obligations to the city or related public entities, and meeting the taxpayer requirement. That requirement can be satisfied through ownership, a mortgage, land contract, lease, or tax statement tied to Alpena property or by providing proof of a qualifying family relationship (spouse, partner, child, or parent) to someone who meets the standard.

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.