Bellevue residents have nominated four candidates to run for the three City Council seats that will be up for election on Monday, April 3.
The four Bellevue residents nominated to run for the City Council include incumbents Vivian Ivie, Jon Wilkes and Steve Fairbrother, as well as Beth Callister. Callister is a member of the Bellevue Planning and Zoning Commission.
Unlike other Idaho municipalities that use a petition method for choosing candidates, Bellevue uses the nominating-caucus method.
Municipalities that use the petition method require would-be candidates to file for candidacy with the city clerk.
Under the nominating-caucus method, cities hold a single nominating caucus during which residents are allowed to nominate the council candidate or candidates of their choice.
Under the nominating-caucus method, would-be candidates can also declare their intent to run for office by conducting a write-in candidacy, but their names do not appear on the ballot, Bellevue City Clerk Dee Barton said.
"They have to file a declaration of intent prior to March 20," Barton said.
Bellevue's reliance on the nominating-caucus method may soon be a thing of the past, however.
Barton said the city has requested that the Idaho Legislature amend its charter to allow it to use the petition method and hold their elections at the same time as the state's other municipalities.
Bellevue is unique in its operation as a charter city that holds municipal elections in the spring.
"We would still hold annual elections, but they would be held in November," Barton said.
