GULF SHORES, Ala. – Without the burden of campaigning, Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft says he can now focus on working to ensure his city and Alabama get a fair share of RESTORE Act money.

And his partner in the two-year long battle to recover after the BP oil spill of 2010, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon, will have the same luxury.

The deadline to file qualifying papers for running for city council and mayor in both cities passed Tuesday at 5 p.m. No one filed to run against either mayor so both will be on board for another four-year term.

“I’m obviously excited not to, in the middle of everything that’s going on, to organize and run a campaign,” Craft said. “It leaves me free to focus on the RESTORE Act and the upcoming meetings we’ve got and trying to make sure the city’s properly positioned. I’m glad to be able to focus on other things.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

The formal name for the bill is Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities and Revived Economy Act. It will direct 80 percent of BP’s fine for violating the Clean Water Act to the five coastal states hit by the spill.

Each state will have a 10-person committee to decide how the funds are spend and Craft and Kennon will both serve on the panel. It includes three mayors from Baldwin and Mobile counties and one commissioner from each county, Gov. Robert Bentley and Jimmy Lyons of the Alabama State Docks will be the chairman.

“I’m certainly delighted that Tony Kennon is also going to be there because he and I have worked so well together is the past four years and I’m glad to see we get to continue that,” Craft said. “He also will be serving on this RESTORE committee and I think it’s important to have someone there representing our two cities that have years of dealing with this oil spill. I think it’s an important opportunity for all of us.”

Both mayors were at the forefront of the fight to spur BP to action to get the oil off the beaches and pump money into a flagging tourist season.

“Thank goodness both of us are where we are and hopefully in a position to create some real energy and excitement for our two cities,” Craft said.

Three city offices in Gulf Shores will be contested in municipal elections in Gulf Shores on Aug. 28 while in Orange Beach only two of six positions will be contested.

No candidates qualified to challenge Craft, Councilwoman Carolyn Doughty for Place 2 or Councilman Jason Dyken for Place 4.

In Gulf Shores for Place 1, incumbent Joe Garris faces challengers Lynn Byrd and Ron Kutter. Phillip Harris is the incumbent in Place 3 and will face challenger Woodrow Wilson “Chip” Wisdom. The incumbent in Place 5, Steve Jones faces a challenge from Lisa Kennedy.

In Orange Beach, Mayor Tony Kennon and Place 4 councilmember Jeff Silvers didn’t draw any challengers.

Place 3 incumbent Pattisue Simpson will face challenger Jerry Johnson. In Place 1, incumbent Ed Carroll didn’t run for reelection and Iris Ethridge and Al Bradley are contending for the seat.

Also, two last-minute filers, Jeffrey M. Boyd and Ty Fleming, Sr. filed to run against Brett Holk for Place 2 on the council and J. Kris Jones will challenge incumbent Joni Blalock for Place 5.