Tom Headley, Nancy Smith, Greg Bjelke, Karl Lewis and Sherette Spicer have all put their name down on the dotted line. They are official, qualified candidates for the called special election to be held May 24 to fill the open Ward 3 position on the Selma City Council.

But, there are some financial concerns and questions still surrounding the upcoming election.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Mayor George Evans, who, after instructed by a majority of the council, did officially order the election, still raised doubt the city had the financial resources to pay for the unbudgeted election.

“I just want to remind the council at this point that we do not have this election in the budget and do not have the funds set aside for this,” Evans said, adding comments during city attorney Jimmy Nunn’s presentations. “I understand we are going to have this election, but we are going to continue to need to look for other items to cut in order to pay for this.”

In an effort to pay for the election, the council had previously decided to hold off on hiring a new council secretary when the post came open earlier this year. The savings from that salary, plus the additional savings from having a vacant council position, “should be enough” Evans said.

“Before I feel better about this, I would like to ask that [city clerk] Mrs. (Ivy) Harrison put together a realistic expectation of what this election, and a possible runoff just might cost us,” Evans said. “Let me bring that figure back to you at the next council meeting and then we can see where we are.”

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw, who has consistently opposed calling a special election for the financial reasons, again said the council should move forward and appoint a person to fill out the term left vacant by the departure of Dr. Monica Newton.

“I think the mayor really stressed a concern tonight and he was between a rock and a hard place,” Crenshaw said following the meeting. “I think we could have polled the community and told them we were going to listen to their concerns and their advice and appoint someone. Financially, right now, I don’t know where we’re going to find the money.”

Another reason for increased financial concern is the very real likelihood of a runoff following the May 24 vote — a runoff that would be held June 6.

If one of the five registered candidates — and there could be more, as qualifying doesn’t end until April 8 — does not garner more than 50 percent of the votes cast, then a runoff must be held between the two candidates who earned the most votes.

“It could have saved the city so much money if we had appointed someone,” councilman Samuel Randolph, another council member opposed to the special election, said. “We are the financial keepers of the city and I believe we are making a bad decision by spending money we don’t have.”