COEUR d'ALENE - The two-week filing period for candidates to be on the Nov. 3 ballot in local city and fire districts is off to a slow start.

Carrie Phillips, Kootenai County elections manager, said that's typical for an election on an odd-numbered year.

However, she admits the low number - only 20 candidates had been verified for candidacy for 54 seats as of Monday night - caught even her attention.

"(On Monday morning), I was like, 'Wow. That's a lot of vacancies (without any filings)," she said.

The deadline for candidates to file with their respective cities and districts to have their names be on the ballot is 5 p.m. on Friday.

Of the 20 candidates who had been verified, 13 were incumbents.

Phillips said she expects several more candidates to file each day this week. The filing period began on Aug. 24.

"We had six petitions that were pending on Monday," Phillips said. "I expect it to be that way all week, especially as we get closer to Friday. People want to see who files first before they run. That may be the holdup. It's the typical (election) game playing. But we generally still have to send out reminders to not forget to file."

Candidates can still file after this week as write-in candidates. The write-in filing deadline for fire districts is Sept. 18 and for cities Oct. 6.

In order to run for city office, state law requires a candidate must be at least 18, be a U.S. citizen and must have lived within his city's limits for at least 30 days prior to submitting a declaration of candidacy.

Candidates must also be registered to vote at the addresses where they currently reside.

Here are the candidates who had been verified as of Monday night:

CITIES

Athol - Robert Wachter, mayor; William Hill, council seat No. 1

Coeur d'Alene - Dan Gookin, council seat No. 3; Dan English, council seat No. 5

Hayden Lake - Chris Beck, mayor

Post Falls - Kerri Thoreson, council seat No. 1; Joe Malloy, council seat No. 3; Lynn Borders council seat No. 5

Spirit Lake - Gary Ventress, council seat No. 2

FIRE DISTRICTS

Eastside - Keith Botai, Zone 2; Philip Noel, Zone 2

Hauser - Wesley Michael, Zone 1; Lisa Wendle, Zone 2

Mica-Kidd Island - James Smith, Zone 1

Northern Lakes - David Halpin, Zone 2

Spirit Lake - David Esterly, Zone 1; Mike Sexsmith, Zone 3; Chuck Hodge, Zone 3

St. Maries - Leon Tyrrell, Zone 3

Worley - Ronald Hise, Zone 1