It's a city plagued by controversy, and this isn't the first time election procedures have been questioned.

Monday Alachua City officials announced all three commission candidate challengers are ineligible to run.

The controversy hinges on paper work technicalities. Alahcua city officials claim Charles Grapski and Lowell "Bud" Byrd both did not sign an important qualifying paper. WCJB received the questioned papers from Alachua officials. They papers they gave us appear to be unsigned, but Grapski says that's just not possible. Alachua officials say the third contender, Michael Perkins, failed to turn in that same form.

Perkins says otherwise. He says the city's Deputy Clerk Alan Henderson verified all the forms were in.

"He checked everything off that he had received it, he put the packet back in order, gave it to me and I left," says Perkins.

Alachua officials solicited advice from the state bureau of elections to rule if they think the three men should qualify to run.

The state said based on the information Alachua provided them, the answer is no.

Now the election may not happen at all.

"There will be no need for an election, because there will be no one running against the incumbents," says Alachua City Manager Clovis Watson Jr.

Alachua officials say they're not at fault for these potential candidates' mistakes.

Both Grapski and Perkins say they plan to take legal action

The election was supposed to take place April 10th. As of now, incumbents Mayor Jean Calderwood and Commissioner Bonnie Burgess will be sworn in.

By Anne Imanuel, WCJB TV 20 News