Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-02-06
Primary To
Be For CITY,
New Offices
Nominations For
New Offices For
London Required
POPULATION 5,Iq2
Secretary Of State
Advises Board Of
Local Situation

Candidates who have filed for
the London May 5 primary have
all been notified by the Board
of Elections that London Is now
a city and that they must refile
their petitions to conform with
legal requirements under Ohio
municipal form of government.
London became a city when the
population exceeded 5000 The
Secretary of States office has
London listed with a population II
5,192.
Nearly all the candidates had
received the new forms for filing
by Tuesday morning, William
Culpeper, Clerk Of the Board of
Elections said. The new forms
were received here Monday after
noon. The deadline for filing for
the May primary is $50 pm.
Wednesday, February 7.
Members of the Board of Elec-
tions We're working Tuesday to
convert the city's eight wards
into four in compliance with
municipal government require
ments.
Seven counciImen will be re-
quired, according to MIR. Culpeper,
one for each ward and three
Councilmen-at-large The presi-
dent of council win also be an
elective office and the clerk Of
Council appointive.
London, however, will also have
other new offices. Among these
will be city auditor and city
solicitor, both elective.
Court Optional
In discussing London's change
from village to a city at the
Secretary of States office Mon
day, the Election Board under
stood a police court would also
be required but in further study
of requirements, learned that the
police court was optional and
that it was one phase of municipal
organization which would have to
be proposed and provided by the
local government.
The new forms received by the
Board Of Elections to be filed by
candidates seeking nominations in
the May primary differ only
slightly from those to be used by
candidates for village offices, ac-
cording to Mr.. Culpeper.
The law requires, he said, that
the candidates must have not less
than five nor more than 25 sig
natures on their petition. There
is room for only 25 on the new
forms, he explained.
Remaining offices for which
candidates are to be nominated
are mayor. treasurer, and those
on the Board of Public Affairs.
London population figures for
1850 on file with the Secretary of
State office are unofficial, accord
ing to the election board, and fl
nal official figures will not likely
be received from the Bureau of
Census until July.
Therefore, the board was adj
vised, they do not dare wait un-
til after the primary for the re-
vised figures, which could pos
sibly return London to a village
status.
Mr.. Culpeper was notified Mon
day by H. II. Hume, in a tele-
phone message from Columbus.
that the petitions of all candi-
dates filed todate, must be refiIed
on new form. The new forms.
he said, would be in London
sometime Monday afternoon.
Any communfty having a pop
ulation in excess of 5000 is con-
sidered a city. Unless the candi-
dates file the new petitions in
time, We went have any local
government" p" Mr.. culpeper said.
All county boards OF election
throughout the state are to be
notified concerning this most
recent ruling of the Secretary of
States office.
London candidates who have
filed todate ares
Mayor
Z. p. Speasnaker, Republican
Maurice G. Eeathard. Democrat
Board Public Affairs
Bruce .. Lewis, Republican
Sam e. Robinson, Republican
Bryan Jenklnson, Democrat
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