A recent candidate for the Aragon City Council stepped up once again for the opportunity to serve as the latest name to qualify for the November ballot.

If it comes to that for two out of the three cities in Polk County.

With the addition today of Gary Shinelbower for the seat being vacated by Judd Fee at year’s end when he seeks to become Mayor for a full term, all four of the open positions are either being filled by a incumbent or a newcomer for this fall’s ballot.

Shindelbower, who previously ran for council in 2019 and was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2021, is now the final signup needed for Aragon to have everyone fill a position for the start of terms in 2024. He has been a frequent fixture in recent years at City Council meetings, and with his qualification if no other challengers jump in there will be no need to have a city ballot for Aragon this year in November.

The same would go for the City of Cedartown, who had no new signups at the Board of Elections today.

Without contested elections, both cities could run notices of no contest for the year and not have to pay for precincts in November.

Incumbent Cedartown Commissioner Dale Tuck signed up to continue serving into a fifth term, and Ryan Casey signed up on Tuesday to join the ballot for November to replace Commissioner Andrew Carter when his term expires at year’s end.

A countywide election for a Special Purpose, Local Option Sales Tax extension past the 2026 expiration is being put on the ballot this year, which will require every county resident the chance to vote and the Cedartown and Aragon precincts will still have a reason to open on November 8.

Rockmart will still have a vote citywide no matter the outcome of qualifying at this point, since a three-way race for Mayor was setup during qualifying this week. Incumbent Sherman Ross will now face challengers and former Council Members James Payne and Cooley Austin to retain his seat.

Qualifying wraps up on Friday at the close of business at 5 p.m. for municipal elections.