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Bedford council weighs requiring signatures or filing fees to curb last-minute candidates
Summary
Councilmembers debated whether to put a charter amendment before voters that would require petition signatures or a modest filing fee for city-council candidates. Supporters said the change would deter frivolous, costly last-minute filings; opponents said it could discourage first-time or low-income candidates and injure democratic access.
Councilmember Farco on Tuesday proposed asking Bedford voters whether the city should require petition signatures or a filing fee for candidates for city council, saying recent last-minute filings cost the city time and money and did not reflect serious campaigns.
"It cost us over $20,000 to run that election," Farco said, recounting his concern about the administrative burden of contested races and urging the council to consider thresholds such as petition signatures or a refundable filing fee.
City attorney Michael Wells told the council the Texas Election…
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