The second week of qualifying for this year’s city elections sawonly a handful of candidates put their names into the hat,according to records at the City Clerk’s Office.

Clarence B. “Doc” Johnson signed up to run for Ward 3 Alderman,a post he held previously from 1985 to 1993.

Johnson characterized himself as an “old pioneer of Brookhaven.”Where feasible, he said he was interested in furthering goodgovernment with no discrepancies on the board, recreationalactivities for all groups, cooperation among government agenciesand providing quality educational opportunities.

“It takes a community to raise a child…,” Johnson said. “Iwant every child to develop to his or her potential.”

Incumbent Ward 3 Alderman the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson is the onlyother candidate in the race so far. Wilson is seeking a secondterm.

In other qualifying, Keith Peden put his name on the Republicanballot for alderman of Ward 6. Peden, a local automobile salesman,said he wanted to address several issues facing the city, includingsome sewage concerns in his area, garbage services and roadwork.

“I want to see if I can help out the community and do somethings that need to be done,” Peden said.

Incumbent John E. “Buddy” Allen and Leroy Hewitt are the otherWard 6 alderman candidates. Both have qualified in the Democraticprimary.

Rolanda C. Spiller has qualified for alderman of Ward 2 and isthe only candidate in that race so far. Incumbent Terry Batesindicated earlier he would run for re-election but has notqualified yet.

Spiller, an employee of the Lincoln County Chancery Clerk’soffice, qualified Friday afternoon and was unavailable forcomment.

With last week’s actions, the total number of candidates whohave qualified so far is 14.

Eleven city offices will be decided this year but two races,alderman-at-large and chief of police, have no candidates as ofyet. Current Alderman-at-large Henry Newman has qualified in themayor’s race, and incumbent Chief of Police Fred McKee isretiring.

In earlier qualifying, candidates (all in the Democratic primaryunless noted) include:

* Mayor: Incumbent W.W. “Bill” Godbold, Newman and Roger RuffinOsborne.

* City Clerk: Incumbent Iris Rudman.

* City Tax Collector: Incumbent Pat Duckworth.

* Ward 1 Alderman: Incumbent Dorsey Cameron.

* Ward 4 Alderman: Republican Boyce Bullock.

* Ward 5 Alderman: Incumbent Tom Smith.

The deadline to qualify to run for office is March 2.

The city election schedule calls for party primaries to be heldMay 1 and runoffs, where needed, will be May 15. The generalelection is June 5.