By John Kiesewetter
Enquirer staff reporter

MIDDLETOWN - The field of candidates for the vacant 2nd Ward seat quickly got crowded after the City Council office was opened Monday morning.

Seven applications were found in the office, which had been locked all day Friday, the application deadline.

Only four candidates were known at 5 p.m. Friday, said Bill Becker, police chief and acting city manager.

The city manager's office had accepted applications Friday, when the clerk's office was not staffed.

"We were not aware they even existed. When I went home Friday we had four. Now we have 11," Becker said.

Becker said applications were submitted to the council office by Michael Bailey, Roberta Derrico, Richard Farnsworth, Joseph Polley, John Soppanish, Linda Watson and David Williams.

Officials are assuming they were all filed before deadline. The names of Helen Edwards, Rosa Lean Lindsey, James Surgenor and Gregory Tyus were announced Friday.

The term of 2nd Ward representative Robert "Sonny" Hill Jr., 69, who died June 22, expires Jan. 1, 2006.

Mayor Bob Wells has said Hill's successor will be selected by council later this month.

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E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com