At least three councilmen planning re-election bids

Alicia Petska / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: February 4, 2008

At least three Lynchburg City Councilmen are expected to seek re-election this year.

Michael Gillette, of Ward I, Ceasor Johnson, of Ward II, and Jeff Helgeson, of Ward III, are all planning bids for what would be their second terms in office.

Helgeson, who runs his own financial services firm, secured the Republican Party nomination on Satur-day. He'll be the only candidate running with GOP backing, said party chairman Mark Peake.

Both Gillette, a bioethicist, and Johnson, a Baptist minister, run as Independents.

Of the four incumbents up for re-election, only Joseph Seiffert, of Ward IV, said he was not yet ready to announce his plans. The retired police chief, who also runs as an Independent, is finishing up his second term in office.

As of Monday morning, no challengers have formally emerged in any race. The deadline to apply for a spot on the ballot is March 4.

The three at-large council seats, currently held by Mayor Joan Foster, Vice Mayor Bert Dodson Jr. and Scott Garrett, will be up for grabs in 2010.