Any qualified citizen (see Article VI, Section 16, for qualifications) may become a candidate for Mayor or Councilman by filing with the Logan County Election Board at the times and dates as set forth in Article VI, Section 16, a Certificate or Declaration of Candidacy containing the information and in the form as provided by State law (currently 26 O.S., 1981, Section 5-111), except that no political party affiliation shall be declared; a filing fee of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) shall be submitted with the Certificate or Declaration of Candidacy; in lieu of such filing fee a Certificate or Declaration of Candidacy may be accompanied by a petition supporting a candidate's filing* signed by at least twenty-five (25) registered voters eligible to vote for the candidate in the first election wherein the candidate's name could appear on the ballot.