Aafrika Poole files as write-in candidate for city council election

Aafrika Poole, 235 Main St., Belleville, has filed as a write-in candidate for the Belleville City Council election on Nov. 5.
Belleville City Clerk Sherri Scharf said when she examined the petition turned in by Poole just before deadline on Aug. 23, she found that most of the signatures were from those who live in Van Buren Township.
Clerk Scharf said when she informed Poole that her petition could not be accepted and she would not be on the ballot, Poole decided to run as a write-in candidate.
Four valid petitions were filed for the three seats open on the Belleville City Council as of the deadline.
The four-year terms of Mayor Kerreen Conley and Councilmen Jack Loria and Tom Smith expire in December 2019. Smith is not running for reelection.
Filing the only petition for mayor was incumbent Kerreen Conley, 629 Light Tower Dr.
Filing petitions for the two open council seats were: incumbent Jack Loria, 118 S. Edgemont St.; Kelly Bates, 342 Victorian Ln.; Ken Voigt, 78 W. Wabash St.; and Poole, whose petition could not be accepted.