Nine candidates have filed paperwork to seek seats on the potential Home Rule committee for the City of Bradford.

According to the McKean County Elections office, those who filed are Jim Evans, James Tingley, Roy Pedersen, Christopher Salerno, Lyle Stewart, Alexander George Casper, Thomas Shay, Kylon Scott Loop and Jeffrey M. Kloss.

Despite rumors to the contrary, the vote in November is not to change to a home rule form of government. Voting for the candidates for the committee does not mean one is for or against home rule; it is a vote for the people who will examine the workings of city government to determine what form the city’s government should take in the future.

The formation of the committee does not guarantee a switch to the home rule form of government.

The seven-person commission — which would only be empaneled if voters approve it on the November ballot — would “examine the city’s current form of local government and evaluate potential alternatives that may better serve the needs of the community,” according to a prior release from City Administrator Eric Taylor.

“The creation of the Government Study Commission reflects the city’s commitment to open governance, citizen engagement and continuous improvement in how local government operates.”

According to city officials, the commission would be responsible for the following: Studying the current structure and operations of Bradford’s municipal government; researching optional forms of government permitted under Pennsylvania law; considering whether the city would benefit from a home rule charter; engaging the public through meetings; recommending whether a change to home rule charter should be pursued.

The next step is this: For voters in the City of Bradford in November, there will be a question on the ballot asking if a commission should be elected to study the city’s government and to consider a change.

At the same election, the nine candidates will be on the ballot for voters to select seven.

If voters say yes to the ballot question, the commission will move forward.

If voters say no to the ballot question, the matter dies out and cannot be raised again for five years.

The ballot question for residents of Bradford will be this — “Shall a Government Study Commission of seven members be elected to study the existing form of government of the City of Bradford, to consider the advisability of the adoption of a home rule charter, and if advisable, to draft and recommend a home rule charter?”

Should it pass, the commission would operate independently of the city council and will have full authority to study the structure of Bradford’s municipal government. Should the commission then recommend a new form of government, such a proposal would be subject to a public referendum.

The commission would have as long as 18 months to research and potentially draft a home rule charter. Any proposed charter would then be put up to the public referendum.

Bradford went through the home rule process in the 1990s, but voters declined to adopt that form of government.