Running for Office

Election Details

An election is to be held in the City of Richland Center, on Tuesday, April 1^st, 2025. If necessary, the primary will be held on the third Tuesday in February. The three year term for Alderperson will begin on the third Tuesday in April. The following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed: 

                  Office                                       Incumbent                Wards

                  Alderperson, District 1                 Karin Tepley              1, 2, 3

                  Alderperson, District 2                 Mark Chambers         4, 5, 6

                  Alderperson, District 3                 Melony Walters         7, 8, 9

                  Alderperson, District 4                 Steve Downs             10, 11, 12

In order to run for an Alderperson position in the City of Richland Center, a candidate must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• United States Citizenship
• At least 18 years of age or Older
• Elector/Resident of the City of Richland Center and Aldermanic District 
• May not have been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless pardoned of the conviction

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you must complete and submit the following form to the City Clerk by 5:00 PM the first Tuesday in January for the candidate’s name to be placed on the ballot for the Spring Primary and/or the Spring General Election:

• Complete the Campaign Registration Statement - Form CF-1
  • File this form with the City Clerk’s Office before announcing your candidacy, or no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers
• Completion of Declaration of Candidacy - Form EL-162
  • includes the candidate’s name in the form it is to appear on the official ballot
• Complete the Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office - Form EL-169 
  • Aldermanic District Common Council candidates must collect 20 (minimum) to 40 (maximum) signatures of qualified city electors residing in their district between December 1, 2024, and 5:00 pm on January 7, 2025. 

Notification of Non-Candidacy

The notification of non-candidacy form notifies the City Clerk’s Office and voters of an incumbent’s intent to not seek re-election to the same office. Incumbent office holders who do not intend to seek re-election to the same office should file this form no later than 5:00 PM on December 27, 2024. If an incumbent not seeking re-election files the notification timely, the nomination paper deadline is unchanged. If the incumbent has a change of mind after filing the notification of non-candidacy, they can run for re-election by filing the appropriate forms by January 7, 2025.

Write-In Candidates

To seek office as a write-in candidate:

• File your campaign registration statement with the City Clerk’s Office as soon as you decide to become a write-in candidate. Write-in votes are counted at the Spring Primary for candidates who file a campaign registration statement by noon on Friday, February 14. Write-in votes are counted at the Spring Election for candidates who file a campaign registration statement by noon on Friday, March 28.
• Educate supporters to write your name on the write-in portion of the ballot, under the proper position.

Questions concerning candidacy may be directed to the Office of the City Clerk at (608) 647-3466 ext. 216.