LAWTON – The filing period for three seats on the Lawton City Council is scheduled for June 17, 18 and 19, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, at the Comanche County Election Board in the County Courthouse here.
Lawton residents will select two City Council members and the Mayor this year.
Officeholders whose posts are up for election this year include Mary Ann Hankins, who has served two terms in Ward 1; Kelly Harris, who is stepping down after one term inWard 2; and Mayor Stan Booker, who has held that post for two terms and told Southwest Ledger he intends to file for a final term.
A City Council candidate must be a resident for at least six months of the ward that he/she is vying to represent, and a mayoral candidate must have been a Lawton resident for six months prior to the date of filing. Council candidates are elected by the registered voters in the ward they seek to represent, while mayoral candidates run at-large citywide.
The nonpartisan primary municipal election will be held on Aug. 27. A general election, if required, will be held on Nov. 5.
Each of the winners will serve a three-year term that begins on Jan. 13, 2025. The City Charter limits Lawton city councilors to a maximum of three terms. The mayor is paid $15,000 per year, and each of the eight council members receives $5,000 per year, the charter provides.