TWO FILE FOR MAYOR, TWO FOR COUNCIL AT MARBLE HILL

MARBLE HILL -- Mayor Ben F. Ellis Jr. faces a challenger in his bid for re-election.

On the first day of filing for city offices Tuesday, Ellis and Jim Johnson filed for mayor and JoAnn Riggs and Tom Houchins filed for Ward 1 alderman. Johnson works in the city of Jackson's water department. Ellis, a veterinarian, has been mayor since 1994.

Riggs is a counselor for Community Counseling, and Houchins is an insurance agent.

Ward 1 Alderman Russell Masterson had not filed for office Tuesday.

No one filed for Ward 2 alderman, a position held by Michael Morris.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no one else had filed for city office.

City Clerk Carolyn Surface said there was some question as to the placement of candidates' names on the ballot for the April 4 municipal election, but city officials decided to follow the traditional practice of listing the names of candidates for each position in the order they filed for office.

Local governments and school districts have the option of conducting random drawings to determine ballot spots for first-day filers for office.

By having a random drawing to decide ballot placement, there is no incentive for candidates to stand in line, Secretary of State Bekki Cook said last week.

Legislation in 1995 allows for a random drawing for first-day filers with the secretary of state's office.