BONNER COUNTY — The filing window for city office candidates to declare for the November election opened Monday across Bonner County.

To hold a city office seat in Idaho, candidates must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen and have resided in the city they are running in for at least 30 days prior to submitting their declaration. In addition to the declaration, candidates must pay a $40 filing fee or acquire a petition of five signatures of qualified city electors within the city.  

If a candidate decides to opt for collecting signatures on a petition, that must be presented to the Bonner County Clerk for review before it can be filed with the city clerk. All declarations must be submitted to the city clerk by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29. 

Sandpoint 

In the November election, three seats on the City Council, currently occupied by Joel Aispuro, Rick Howarth and Justin Dick, will be open. The office of mayor is not up for election until 2027.  

Those who wish to file must meet the qualifications and turn in their declaration in-person at City Hall to the city clerk. 

Priest River 

The City Council seats held by Candy Turner and Billy Mullaley will be up for election in Priest River and those elected will serve a four-year term. More information can be found at priestriver-id.gov/elections and declarations can be picked up at the city clerk’s office at City Hall.  

Kootenai 

There will be two city council seats, currently held by Joseph Rafferty and David Sundquist, up for election in 2025. Like Sandpoint, the mayoral office is not up for election and will not be until 2027. 

For more information and to acquire the necessary documents to declare head to cityofkootenai.org/city-elections or to the office of the city clerk at City Hall. 

Ponderay 

The terms of City Council members Rick Larkin and Phil McNearney are ending, putting two of Ponderay’s four City Council seats on the ballot. More information can be found by contacting City Hall. 

Clark Fork 

The city of Clark Fork will have two open seats on the City Council, held currently by Jay White and Vicki Woodward and the office of mayor, held by Russell Schenck, up for election in November. All those positions are four-year terms, and declarations can be picked up at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Dover 

In November, the two City Council seats currently held by Kim Bledsoe and Merlin Glass will be open. The office of mayor, held by George Eskridge, will also be on the ballot. More information can be found on the city’s website and declarations can be picked up at City Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. 

Hope 

The city of Hope will have five open seats on the ballot in November. Two City Council seats that will serve two-year terms and two more that will serve four-year terms. Additionally, the office of mayor is up for election. To find more information contact City Hall or visit the Bonner County website for declaration documents. 

East Hope 

There will be two city council, currently held by Joyce Butler and Michael Wilcox, seats up on the ballot in East Hope, which are four-year terms. The office of mayor will not be up for election until 2027. More information can be found at cityofeasthope.com or declarations can be picked up in person at City Hall.