The day to officially begin filing for elected office is today.

Starting at 8 a.m. at Albert Lea City Hall, people wishing to file for a city office can do so with City Clerk Shirley Slater-Schulte. Candidates will fill out paperwork and then will be given some information about the process.

Seats up for election in the city are Ward 1, in which Councilor Vern Rasmussen is up for re-election; Ward 3, in which Councilor George Marin has announced he will not seek re-election; and Ward 5, in which Councilor John Severtson has announced he will not seek re-election on the Albert Lea City Council and will instead seek election as a Freeborn County commissioner.

The position of mayor, which can be chosen from any ward within the city limits, is also up for vote.

Starting at 8 a.m at the Freeborn County Government Center, people wishing to file for a county office can do so with Freeborn County Auditor Dennis Distad.

Seats up for election in the county are commissioners in District 1, 3 and 5. Current District 5 Commissioner Mark Behrends has announced he will not seek re-election, and it is rumored that District 1 Commissioner Glen Mathiason, who was also the 2008 board chairman, along with District 3 Commissioner Jim Nelson, will not as well.

County soil and water supervisors are also up for election in Districts 1, 2 and 5.

State House of Representatives District 27A candidates can also file with Distad or through the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Filing goes for two weeks until July 15 at 5 p.m., except for on July 4 when offices will be closed for the holiday.

Then, the primary election for these offices will be Sept. 9.

The first day to file for the Albert Lea school board is Aug. 26 at Brookaside Education Center.

Chairman Ken Petersen, Vice Chairman Bill Villarreal and board member Bill Leland are up for re-election. Their term ends January of 2009.

There will not be an official primary election for school board members.