Want to help run the city of Corpus Christi?

Here’s your shot.

The filing period for applications to run for a spot on City Council in the November general election began July 20 and remains open through Aug. 17, according to a July 15 news release.

There are nine seats on City Council, and each is up for election.

The council is composed of three at-large positions, five district representatives and the mayor.

At-large candidates and mayoral candidates must reside in the city but are not required to reside in a specific area of the city.

District representative candidates must reside in the district they seek to represent.

Filing an application requires paying a $100 fee — only accepted by cash, money order or cashier’s check, made out to “City of Corpus Christi” — or submission of a petition, according to the news release.

Successful petitions require a certain number of signatures of registered voters who reside in the area that the candidate would represent — at least 25 or “one-half of one percent of the total vote received in the territory from which the office is elected by all candidates for mayor in the most recent mayoral regular election,” according to the City Charter.

Additional details on the requirements for filing a petition are available on the Texas secretary of state’s website.

Here are some general guidelines for eligibility to run as a City Council candidate, as shown in candidates’ packets.

Candidates:

Are required to have lived in Texas for at least 12 consecutive months and resided in the area the candidate is seeking to represent for at least six months prior to filing the application.

Must be registered voters in the area the candidate seeks to represent.

Cannot owe delinquent taxes to the city.

Must be at least 18 years old at the start of the council term.

Cannot “have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.”

Cannot “have been finally convicted of a felony from which he/she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.”

Must appoint a campaign treasurer, and file forms with the city secretary showing the selected campaign treasurer, before launching campaigns.

Are required to a financial information report and a supplemental financial information report within three days of filing the application for a spot on the ballot.

Must file a personal financial statement by Sept. 8.

The city secretary’s office has candidate packets, both in hard copy and online, that provide full details on process, requirements and criteria. Hard copies are available at the office at 1201 Leopard St., and digital copies at the website, corpuschristitx.gov/department-directory/city-secretary, under the “2026 election central” tab.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Want to help run Corpus Christi? Here’s how to run for City Council