The qualifying period may have been shortened, but that didn’t stunt the field of candidates who will vie for the Post 1 seat on the Peachtree City Council.

Qualifying ran from Monday morning to noon Wednesday, netting three newly-announced newcomers, a previously unannounced candidate and a local businessman going for his third local election.

As expected, business consultant Shelby Barker, homemaker Beth Pullias and retiree Eric Imker filed qualifying papers. A fourth resident, David Craig, also qualified for office, as did local gym owner Dar Thompson, who unsuccessfully ran for the mayor’s post in 2005 and a council seat in 2007.

The Post 1 election will be held at the same time as the Nov. 3 election for the other council seats up for grabs along with the mayor’s position. That creates a unique opportunity for Peachtree City residents to end up with four rookies on its five-member council.

The winner of the election will be installed to fill the remaining two years on the term of the Post 1 seat that was vacated by Don Haddix several weeks ago when he qualified to run for mayor. Haddix will face off against political newcomer Scott Rowland and fellow council member Cyndi Plunkett, who didn’t have to resign from her council seat because her term ends Dec. 31.