Local residents who want to run for municipal office have three more days to file qualifying papers with the city clerk’s office.

Since filing began the first week in January, the campaigning has been heating up as one candidate after another has signed up to run for mayor, police chief, city clerk or alderman.

But the deadline to qualify is 5 p.m. Friday. After that, the running will begin in earnest.

Those wishing to qualify to run in a party primary must pay a $10 fee and be a registered voter in the city – and a resident of the ward if qualifying for an alderman position.

To run as an independent, a candidate must meet the same residency requirements and also file a petition with the names of 50 registered voters living in the city – or within the ward, if the candidate is running for alderman.

Candidates also must not have committed any of the 20 felonies that would disenfranchise them.

The party primaries will be held May 7, with runoffs, if necessary, on May 21. The city’s general election is set for June 4.

If you want to run for local office and you haven’t qualified yet, there’s still time. If you don’t want to personally seek office, but you want to get involved, there also is time to get out and support the candidate of your choice.