Pool widens as filing period approaches for Council seats

As the first day of filing for the City's municipal election nears, another local resident has thrown his hat into the ring.

Steve Homoki announced Monday his plans to run for a City Council at-large seat. He will run as a Republican.

Homoki, the co-founder and current president of Remember the Children, a new local organization which looks to assist guardian ad litem advocates for neglected and abused children in the Second Judicial Circuit, retired after 22 years in the United States Air Force. He was later assigned to Allied Forces Central Europe were he worked to develop NATO war plans.

He completed his service at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff. Homoki also served as executive vice president for three small businesses in Northern Virginia.

Homoki's campaign slogan is "preserve the past, prepare for the future."

"I want to make sure that Aiken voters have a candidate who is motivated to work for what is best for them in this election," he said in a release. "The taxpayers of Aiken need a member-at-large on the City Council who truly represents a voice of reason to advance their interests in a fair and balanced manner."

Filing for the primaries will close on Aug. 10. Several have come forward with plans to seek one of the two at-large seats that are available this election cycle.

The seats are currently being held by City Councilwoman Jane Vaughters, who also serves as mayor pro tem, and City Councilman Don Wells.

Vaughters has said that she will not run for a third term, while Wells is seeking re-election for his at-large seat.

Liz Stewart, a City planning commissioner and head of Stewart and Associates Inc., a consulting firm on Park Avenue, announced in March that she will seek an at-large seat and will run as a Republican.

Kent Cubbage, the biology program coordinator at Aiken Technical College, also announced in March plans to run for an at-large seat as a Republican.

Councilwoman Lessie Price has said she will seek re-election for her second district seat as a Democrat.

The District 4 seat, currently held by Councilman Dick Smith, will also be up for grabs this election. Smith recently said he does not plan to run for re-election.

If necessary, primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties will take place on Sept. 8.

Those looking to run as petition candidates must file with the City of Aiken by Sept. 18.

To be considered a petition candidate, one must obtain signatures from 5 percent of registered voters in the district they are looking to serve.

2009 Municipal Election Schedule

* Aug. 3 - Opening of filing as candidates for the primaries or as a petition candidate

* Aug. 10 - Filing closes for primaries

* Sept. 8 - Primary elections will be held

* Sept. 18 - Last day petition candidates can file

* Sept. 22 - Municipal party runoffs (if necessary)

* Oct. 2 - Last day for certifying candidates to the Election Commission

* Nov. 3 - Election Day

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.