SECTION 10.03. Nominations.
   Be it further enacted, that a qualified elector of the city may be nominated for the council by petition of any twenty-five (25) or more such electors. With each signature shall be stated the place of residence of the signer, giving the street and number or other description sufficient to identify it. Candidates shall file their nominating petitions no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the forth-fifth calendar day before the election. If this day fall on a Sunday, then the petition shall be filed no later than twelve o'clock (12:00) noon, prevailing time, on the immediate preceding Saturday and shall be in substantially the following form:
   We the undersigned electors of the City of Cookeville, hereby nominate
___________, whose residence is ____________________, for the office of councilman, to be voted for at the election to be held on the ___ day of
______, 19___; and we individually certify that our names have appeared on the rolls of registered voters within the last year, that we are qualified to vote for a candidate for the council.
   Name Street and Number Address from Date of which last Signing registered
(if different)
(Spaces for Signatures and Required Data)
   Acceptance of Nomination
   I hereby accept the nomination for the council and agree to serve if elected.
   Signature of candidate ________________________
   Date and hour of filing _______________________
   This petition is filed by _________________________ whose address is ___________________________________
   Received by _______________________________________
(Signature of Election Official)
   The election authorities shall take and preserve the name and address of the person by whom each nominating petition is filed. No nominating petition shall be accepted unless accompanied by a signed acceptance of the nomination.
   Any candidate may withdraw his nomination not later than seven (7) days after the deadline for filing nominating petitions by filing a notice of withdrawal with the election authorities. Within five (5) days after the filing of a nominating petition the election authorities shall notify the candidate and the person who filed the petition whether or not it is found to be signed by the required number of qualified electors. If a petition is found insufficient, the election authorities shall return it immediately to the person who filed it with a statement certifying wherein the petition is found insufficient. Within the regular time for filing petitions a new petition may be filed for the same candidate. The petition of each candidate nominated to be a member of the council shall be preserved by the election authorities until the expiration of the term of office for which he has been nominated. [As replaced by Priv. Acts 1989, ch. 8; and amended by Priv.
   Acts 1991, ch. 134]