Former City of Bridgeport department head Don Burton was the fourth individual to file to run for City Council in the June 11 Bridgeport Municipal Election.

 

The first day to file a certificate declaring candidacy was Jan. 14. That process was open through yesterday, Thursday, April 11. Burton was the third applicant in the Council race.

 

Two Council members will be elected, as well as a city recorder to four-year terms. Elected in June of 2015 for four-year terms were Council member Jeff Smell, Council member Lowell “L.J.” Maxey and Recorder Dr. Hank “Harry” Murray.

 

Smell has filed for re-election to Council, while Murray has filed for re-election to City Recorder. Donnie Tate has also filed to run for Council. Along with Burton Thursday, James "Jim" Yeater and Adam Starkey also filed for the two seats on Council. Stories on them coming up on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

Burton worked for the Parks and Recreation Department for nearly 30 years. The entire time was spent as the director of the P&R Department. Burton is a native of Florida, having moved to Bridgeport in 1987. Burton is a graduate of Morris Harvey College, which today is known as the University of Charleston. The 63-year-old has a combination non-teaching degree in health education and physical education.

 

During his time with the city, Burton served on multiple city and state boards as well as serving on the board Wes-Mon-Ty Soil Conservation District. Don and his wife Kym are the parents of three children.

  

To run for one of the three positions, certificates had to have been filed with the City Clerk’s office accompanied by a $25 filing fee no later than 4 p.m. yesterday, meaning the field is closed. The election is nonpartisan, and any person who is a qualified voter of the City of Bridgeport was allowed to file.

 

A qualified voter is anyone who is a minimum of 18 years of age, a resident of Bridgeport, and not under conviction of a felony or other disqualification.