The City of Walthourville held a Special Called meeting Tuesday to announce the fees for the upcoming 2019 elections.

Jones said, according to state law, the qualifying fee, set by the Secretary of State, is equal to three percent of the monthly salary of each office held.

For the Nov. 5, 2019, general election, qualified candidates running for Mayor will pay $432 in qualifying fees. Anyone seeking a council member spot will pay $216 in qualifying fees.

The Mayor and all of the City of Walthourville Council members’ terms expire this year, meaning the current Mayor and council members will need to seek being re-elected if they choose to remain in office.

When questioned by Councilwoman Luciria Lovette, on why they had to hold the special called meeting to announce the fess, Jones said the fees needed to be finalized and published by February 1, per state law.

Lovette also asked why there was an increase in the fees compared to the previous election where council members only paid around $147 to qualify.

Jones said the fees are set by the state and have always been at the rate of three percent of the monthly salary council members and the Mayor draw. She said she doesn’t know why the prior fee was different since she was not employed with the city during the previous election cycle.

“I don’t know why or how things were done then,” she said. “But the law states three percent and we need to follow the law.”

Mayor Daisy Pray has been serving since 2008. Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Anderson, Sr., who is the councilman for district 2, has been serving since 2000. District 1 councilwoman Patricia Green has been in office since 1983. District 3 councilman Larry D. Baker has served since 2000. Lovette, from district 4, has been in office since 2002 and Councilman Vincent Pray, from district 5, has served since 2016.

The last day for people to register for the November general election is Oct. 7, 2019.