SACO — Nomination papers are available for the position of mayor as well as City Council seats in all seven wards in the city of Saco.

Nomination papers can be picked up at City Hall and completed nomination packets must be returned to there by Sept. 6. Mayoral candidates must have 200 valid signatures of registered Saco voters and City Council candidates must have 30.

Qualifying candidates will run in the Nov. 5 election. Winning candidates in Wards 1, 3 and 6 will be elected this year for two-year terms, and beginning in 2021 will be elected for three-year terms. Candidates in Wards 4 and 5 will run for three-year terms, and when terms expire in 2022 , candidates in these wards will continue to run for three-year terms. Winners for council in Wards 2, 7 and the mayoral race will be elected to four-year terms expiring in 2023, and thereafter the mayor and Wards 2 and 7 councilors will be three-year terms.

The upcoming terms have been scheduled so that after a transition period, terms will be staggered in a three-year cycle, with Wards 1, 3 and 5 councilors up for election the first year, Wards 4 and 5 councilors up for re-election the second year and councilors for Wards 2 and 7 and the mayor up for re-election in the third year.

Previously all positions were two-year terms.

The change in terms came about from a November referendum in which residents approved a staggered term election cycle in a 5,103 to 3,632 vote.

In November, Mayor Marston Lovell said the proposed staggered term cycle would create stability on the council as it would assure that there would always be experienced members on the City Council. In the current system, with all seven members and the mayor up for election at the same time, the possibility remains that a whole new council could get voted in on an election year.

Ward clerks and wardens are also up for election. These positions have two-year terms.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.