The four non-partisan municipal races in Seminole County cities this year might draw more interest than usual as newly energized residents opt to step up their civic activity and run for office.  Qualifying for the races in Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Longwood, and Oviedo generally opens around the end of August.

The Altamonte Springs mayor runs ‘at large’, and can live in any of the city’s four districts. Incumbent Patricia Bates’ 3- year term is up this year, as are the 2-year terms of District 1 Commissioner Gardner Hussey  and District 3 Commissioner Sarah Reece .  Qualifying opens at noon, August 28 and closes at 4:30 p.m., September 5.

In Lake Mary, the District 2 seat of Deputy Mayor George Duryea and the District 4 seat of Commissioner Jo Ann Lucarelli are open. Qualifying for the two-year terms opens at noon Monday, August 28 and closes at noon Friday, September 1.

In Longwood, the terms of District One Commissioner John Maingot , District Two Mayor Joe Durso and District Four Commissioner Mark Weller are up. Those terms were recently changed to four years according to the City Clerk’s office. Qualification will run from noon, Monday, August 21 to noon, Friday, August 25.

Both Oviedo Mayor Dominic Persampiere and Deputy Mayor Steve Henken are up for re-election. Specific qualifying dates for the two-year terms have not been set, but will be around the end of August as well.

Specific residency requirements vary from city to city. The city clerks and the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections office (http://voteseminole.org/) offer information on the legalities of qualifying and setting up campaigns.