Hutchinson residents interested in serving their neighbors as a member of the City Council have one more week to file an affidavit of candidacy and pay a $20 filing fee. The two-week filing period ends at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 15.

Three of the five positions are up for election this year. The races for two, four-year positions, Seat 3 filled by Kay Peterson and Seat 4 filled Casey Stotts, are wide open. Both announced they don’t plan to seek re-election. The other seat is that of Mayor Steve Cook, who has announced that he plans to seek his third two-year term.

Prospective candidates can learn more about the role of the council, duties of a council member, the time commitment and filing information at an open house, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, in the council chambers of City Center, 111 Hassan St. S.E.

People interested in being a candidate may file the necessary papers and pay the fee to election official Melissa Starke, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at City Center.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com [2].)