Update:

The special election for the District 2 County Commission seat will be a contested race in November.

Elections Director Lee Ann George reported that Linda Liles reported to the Board of Elections office this morning to file her paperwork and pay the qualifying fee in a race to retain her seat as the District 2 Commissioner after being appointed to serve back in April.

Liles faces Chris Roberson on the November ballot to continue on for the remainder of the seat’s term. Roberson qualified earlier in the morning.

So did Daniel Johnson for the Aragon City Council seat left open by the move of Candace Seiz out of the city limits and her resignation in early July.

The Board of Elections opens for a second day of qualifying Thursday morning.

Previously posted at 10:10 a.m.:

The Polk County Board of Elections will be taking in applications and payments for those who wish to qualify for a pair of elections through Friday at noon, and those interested in running for the Aragon City Council or one of the Polk County Commission District 2 seats in November will already have some competition.

Elections officials reported that former City of Aragon Public Works Director Daniel Johnson was the first to qualify this morning for that seat, and Christopher Robinson qualified for the District 2 commission seat.

Johnson said that he hopes to be “a voice for the citizens” of Aragon if elected.

“I want to find a way to help move the city forward,” he said. “I want to work with the mayor and council to improve the community and bring Aragon as close as we can the the days everyone knew everyone. I hope to find ways to improve the safety of the citizens.”

Robinson had already announced his intention and filed paperwork declaring back in April, when the Commission appointed Linda Liles to the open District 2 seat to serve through the end of 2020. Liles will have to run for the seat in the November special election to retain it beyond year’s end and into the rest of the term left open when former Commission Chair Jennifer Hulsey stepped down to run for the State House District 16 seat.

Qualifying for both seats continues until 5 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to close on Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.

Those interested in running for the Aragon City Council will need to pay $36, meet the requirements put forth by the city (call 770-684-6563 for more information.)

Potential candidates for the County Commission seat will be required to pay $144 and meet the requirements as well.

For more information about qualifying on the ballot, call the Board of Elections office at 770-749-2103.