No primary election shall be held for the nomination of candidates for the office of council member, and candidates shall be nominated only as provided herein. A person may also become a candidate for the office of council member by filing a verified pauper’s oath with the city clerk, or by filing a verified petition containing an endorsement of candidacy by the signatures and addresses of 500 persons, each of whom is a registered voter residing in the city and within the district for which the individual intends to be a candidate for election to office, provided that no such signature may be obtained more than 12 months preceding the deadline for filing said statements.