Crowded field could be shaping up for municipal elections next year

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[If everyone who has picked up nominating petitions follows through and becomes a candidate, Harrisburg already has a crowded field for city council and mayor races next year.

So far, Bud Flynn, Ron Morse, Eric Gregg and David Taylor have picked up paperwork to begin a possible mayoral campaign.

A host of people have picked up nominating petitions for city council, including incumbents Linda Mitacek and John McPeek, along with Ron Fearheiley, William "Bosco" Watson, Jack Casteel, Ron Crank, Bob Holmes and Mike Gall.

Picking up petitions does not make a person a candidate; filing the petitions during the Dec. 13 to Dec. 20 filing period makes a candidacy official.

In Eldorado, only incumbents have picked up petitions. Rocky James is weighing another term as mayor; Jeff Minor, Jim Morris and Robby Price have picked up petitions for city council.

The villages of Galatia, Carrier Mills, Raleigh, Muddy and Stonefort have caucuses in January to nominate candidates of the established village parties. Independent candidates may also file and run for village board elections.