With a day to go until the curtain falls on the qualifying deadline for multiple offices, Smithville and Liberty both know they will be having contested mayor races.

Deadline to qualify for municipal elections, school board races and state primaries is noon Thursday at the DeKalb County Election office at the courthouse. All petitions containing the required signatures must be filed by then in order for a candidate to get on the ballot.

In the city of Smithville, incumbent Mayor Jimmy Poss is already facing opposition from Alderman Josh Miller. A third potential candidate, Curtis Rust has qualifying papers but has not turned them in. In addition to mayor, it is already confirmed there will be a contested aldermanic race as there are two at-large seats up for election with three candidates. The candidates thus far include aldermen Jason Murphy and Gayla Hendrix. Brandon Cox hopes to unseat one of the incumbents.

While Smithville has a contested ballot already, Alexandria will have trouble filling its city board as there is just one aldermanic candidate, Lloyd Dyer, qualified to run for one of five spots up for grabs this year. There are several papers out including those held by Eddie Shane Blair and Bridgette Rogers. Doyle Hendrix has papers out for Alexandria mayor.

Meanwhile, Dowelltown has no candidates stepping forward for its three aldermanic seats. Should no one make deadline, there is a chance to run on a write-in.

“You are required to notify the election office if you want to have your write-in votes counted no later than 50 days before election,” said Election Administrator Dennis Stanley.

In Liberty, Darrell Johnson and Dwight Mathis will square out for the mayor’s seat while J.D. Bratten, Derek Johnson and William H. Reynolds have qualified to run for alderman. Jason Ray still has aldermanic papers out.

For school board, there is presently only one contested office that being the second district where incumbent Jerry Wayne Williamson is facing opposition from Alan Hayes. Thus far, incumbents Jim Beshearse, Kate Miller, Danny Parkerson and Shaun Tubbs face no opposition.