Run for Council

Interested in serving on City Council? We welcome your interest and want to make the process smooth for you. Please review the important information below, check out our Frequently Asked Questions, and contact us at 417-864-1651 if you need help.

In anticipation of the April 4, 2023 election, the City Clerk's office will have candidate informational packets available starting at 8 a.m. Oct. 3, 2022. 

NOTE: Packets may be downloaded; however, petitions must be obtained from the City Clerk's office.  Petitions must be turned in to the Office of the City Clerk between December 5, 2022, and January 17, 2023.  

Petitions may not be turned in earlier than Dec. 5, 2022, at 8 a.m. and no later than Jan. 17, 2023, at 5 p.m.

Seats Available as of April 4, 2023

• Mayor
• Zone 1 Councilmember for the remainder of the term - 2 years
• Zone 2 Councilmember
• Zone 3 Councilmember
• General Councilmember C
• General Councilmember D

Qualifications

To run for City Council, you must:

• Be a qualified and registered voter of the city
• Be a resident of the city for at least two years immediately prior to election
• If filing for one of the zone seats, must be a resident of your respective zone for at least one year immediately prior to election and also meet the two-year residency requirement
• Not be a candidate or nominee for any other paid public office (exceptions: National Guard, Naval or Military Reserve, or Notary Public)
• Not be employed by the City of Springfield or any of its departments (except for Public Safety), boards, or agencies during or for 1 year after serving on the Council.  Public Safety employees should contact the City Attorney's Office for clarification of their ability to run.

Petition Criteria

Valid petitions must meet the following criteria:

• Zone - 100 registered voters, who reside in the particular zone
• General - 200 registered voters, who reside within the city limits

Related Links

• City Charter
  • Article 2 of the City Charter specifies the full qualifications for serving on City Council.
  • Article 13 of the City Charter details the nomination and election procedures.
• Secretary of State
  • Visit the Secretary of State for state election information.
• Missouri Ethics Commission
  • The Missouri Ethics Commission handles the enforcement of conflict of interest and lobbying laws and campaign finance disclosure laws.
• Greene County
  • The Greene County Clerk is the election authority for the county and its political subdivisions, including Springfield, and is responsible for conducting all public elections.

For Additional Information Pertaining to Voter Registration and County Elections

 Please contact the County Clerk at 417-868-4055.