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Bellaire voters will go to the polls in November to choose a mayor and at least three new council members, due to term limits and one resignation.

Bellaire City Councilman John Jeffery, who is moving away from the city, recently announced his decision to resign from council. Bellaire Mayor Cindy Siegel thanked him during Monday’s city council meeting.

“I’ve appreciated working with you, you’ve done a great job working for the city,” Siegel said.

Siegel is seeking reelection to what could be her fourth — and final –term as mayor. She has served since 2004.

In addition to Jeffery’s replacement, there will be at least two other new members because of Bellaire’s term limits. Bellaire’s City Charter limits council members to two 4-year terms.

Place 3 City Councilwoman Peggy Faulk, who also serves at Mayor Pro Tem, and Place 5 Councilman Pat McLaughlan are term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection.

“There will be at least three new people on the council, at a minimum,” said Bellaire City Clerk Tracy Dutton.

Place 1 City Councilman Will Hickman also has filed for reelection to a second term on the council.

Bellaire attorney Mandy Nathan is a candidate for the Place 6 seat being vacated by Jeffery.

Other candidates have already filed applications for the seats now held by Faulk and McLaughlan. Bellaire attorney Corbett Daniel Parker and Bellaire media executive Roseann Rogers have filed as candidates for the Place 3 seat, Dutton said.

Andrew Friedberg, a Bellaire attorney and Planning and Zoning Commission member, has filed for the Place 5 position.

If Siegel is reelected, “This would be the last time that she is eligible,” Dutton said. Siegel became Bellaire mayor in January 2004, and the charter provides that the mayor can serve four 2-year terms

The Council election will be held November 3, 2009. The filing deadline for candidates is 5 p.m. September 2.

Jeffery’s replacement on the council will take office in mid-November, after Bellaire’s votes are officially canvassed, Dutton said. Terms for the mayor and other council members start in January, 2010.

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