After a slow start to the filing period for municipal elections in Beaufort County, filings picked up steam earlier this week.

During Tuesday and Wednesday, eight people filed paperwork and paid filing fees to run for mayoral seats, council seats or board seats. The municipal elections in Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego, Washington and Washington Park will be conducted Nov. 7

Washington Mayor Mac Hodges is seeking re-election. William “Bill” Clark is seeking one of the five seats available on the Washington City Council.

Chocowinity Mayor Jimmy Mobley filed for re-election. He faces a challenge from Chocowinity Commissioner Curt Jenkins, who filed Monday. Incumbent Commissioner William J. Albritton is seeking to retain his seat on the Board of Commissioners.

Patrick Nash and Belinda Cowell filed for re-election to the Washington Park Board of Commissioners.

Yvonne DeRuiz, an incumbent of the Belhaven Board of Aldermen, is seeking re-election.

Chad Keech, a member of the Pantego Board of Commissioners, is seeking re-election.

Candidates who filed during the first two days of the filing period include Gil Davis, a former member of the Washington City Council, who is seeking a return to a council seat; Patricia Bragg, an incumbent on the Aurora Board of Commissioners, is seeking re-election; Wade Dale, an incumbent on the Washington Park Board of Commissioners, wants to keep his seat on the board; and Aurora Mayor Clif Williams, who is seeking re-election.

Washington’s mayor and five council members serve two-year terms. The terms of Hodges and council members Doug Mercer, Richard Brooks, William Pitt, Virginia Finnerty and Larry Beeman expire this year.

This year, Aurora voters will elect a mayor and two members of the four-member Board of Commissioners. The board seats held by Bragg and Raleigh B. Lee III and Williams’ seat are up for election this year, according to the Board of Elections. Board members serve four-year, staggered terms.

Bath voters will elect two members of the four-member Board of Commissioners this year. The four-year terms of commissioners Patricia Duffer and Jay Hardin expire this year.

In Belhaven, voters will pick a mayor and three members of the five-member Board of Aldermen this year. Mayor Adam O’Neal’s two-year term expires this fall. The seats held by DeRuiz, Greg Satterthwaite and Steve Carawan are available this election cycle. Carawan was appointed to fill the vacant seat on the board created when Dr. Charles O. Boyette died. Boyette’s term did not expire until 2019, but because Carawan was appointed to that seat and not elected, he is required to file for election if he wants to keep the seat until 2019, according to Branch.

Chocowinity voters will elect two members to the town’s four-member Board of Commissioners and a mayor. The four-year terms of Mobley and commissioners Louise S. Furman and Albritton expire later this year.

Voters in Pantego will pick a mayor and five members for the town’s five-member Board of Commissioners. The mayor and commissioners serve two-year terms. The terms of the current mayor, Stuart Edward Ricks, and commissioners Mart Benson, Reid Michael Gelderman, Robert Lilley, “Chuck” Williams and Keech expire this fall.

Each seat on the five-member Washington Park Board of Commissioners and the mayor’s seat are available this election cycle. The current two-year terms of Mayor Tom Richter and board members Dale, Nash, Cowell, Lee Bowen and Jeffrey A. Peacock end later this year.

Successful candidates are sworn in at the first council or board meeting in December.

The filing period resumes today. Candidates may file from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The filing period ends at noon July 21. The Board of Elections conducts municipal elections for Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego, Washington and Washington Park, which pay the board to conduct the elections.