Filing for municipal, school board elections end

Filing has ended for May’s local city and school board elections and while some races are hotly contested, others aren’t rocking the boat.

Early voting for the city and school board elections will be held April 20-28. The general election will be held Saturday, May 2.

Deadline for write-in candidates to file for municipal or school board elections was 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18. City and school officials are required to wait until end of day Tuesday before announcing their elections were canceled, as needed.
“As a general rule, a candidate for local office may appear on the ballot only as an independent,” according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website, which means no candidate will be representing any political party during May’s election.

In Alto, incumbents Carey Palmer and E.L. Thacker both refiled to keep their at-large council seats. Newcomers Monty Collins, Sharon Carter and Shamonica Johnson also filed for a place on the council.

Alto ISD is anticipating canceling its at-large election as both incumbents, Lionel Whitaker and Stancy Skinner each refiled with no opposition.

Two incumbents and one newcomer filed for the three positions up for election the Bullard City Council. Incumbents Bryan Willis and Shirley Coe re-upped to keep their seats. Terry Mebane filed for the seat currently held by David Rhodes, who opted not to run for re-election. City officials are anticipating canceling its election.

Bullard ISD’s trustee election generated much interest as seven candidates filed their intent to run for Places 1, 2 and 3. Incumbent Tony Johnson, will face opponents Cory Santos and Jason Acker for Place 1. Place 2 incumbent Brian Vestal is facing opponent Brent Bishop. New-comers Shane Hagen and Jason Stainback are each seeking Place 3’s seat.

In Cuney, Grace Beal and Marshall Roberts are vying for the mayor’s seat. Incumbent Elizabeth Jenkins has no opposition for Place 4’s seat, but incumbent Dianne Reed has two opponents, Vivian Earl and Marilyn McClelland, for Place 2’s seat.

Cuney has no school district.

Gallatin city officials are anticipating canceling the election for two council seats as incumbents Carolann Folkes and

Mary Nell Zehren – both of whom were previously appointed to fulfil unexpired terms – have filed to keep their seats with no opposition.

Gallatin has no school district.

Jacksonville City Council’s Districts 2 and 4 seats, currently occupied by Jeff Smith and Rob Gowin, are up for election in May. City officials were unable to provide information on its election as of press time Tuesday.

Jacksonville ISD is also anticipating canceling its trustee election as nei-ther candidate has an opponent. Place 4 incumbent Dean Dublin filed to continue serving as JISD trustee, while newcomer Jill Penn filed to fill Place 3’s seat, currently held by Michael Traylor, who is not seeking to run again.

Incumbent Jane Barrow has filed to keep her seat as New Summer-field’s mayor, while newcomers Richard Wallace and Tamara Samford are each seeking the two at-large council seats up for election in May. City officials are anticipating canceling the city’s at-large election.

School officials are also anticipating canceling Summerfield ISD’s May election as incumbents Michael Davis and J.B. Neely both filed to retain their positions on the NSISD school board, with no opposition.

Reklaw city officials, too, are anticipating canceling the city election as all three incumbents filed to keep their seats, with no opposition. In-cumbents are Mayor Bob Parrott, Place 3 Councilwoman Andra Hassell and Place 5 Councilwoman Stephanie Harry.

Reklaw has no school district.

Rusk city officials are also anticipating canceling the city’s May election as all three incumbents up for re-election -- District 3 Councilman Mar-tin Holsome; District 4 Councilwoman Martha Neely; and District 5 Councilwoman Frances Long -- filed to keep their seats on the Rusk City Council and have no opponents. Neely and Long were nominated in May 2019 to fulfill the second of their seats’ two-year terms, after Rusk voters approved recalling two former council members in the May 2019 election.

Incumbents Martin Peppin and Teresa Phifer as well as newcomers Oli-ver Sturns and Tara Tatarski are each vying for the three at-large RISD board seats up for grabs in May.

New candidate Tony McKnight is seeking Wells’ mayoral seat and has no opposition. Current Mayor C.W. Williams opted not to seek re-election. Incumbents Eva Alexander, Robert Kalka and Billie Petty all filed to keep their at-large positions, while newcomer Darlene Kirkland has also filed for a position on the Council.

Wells ISD has three at-large school board seats up for election in May. Incumbents Donnie Carver, T. Wayne Montes and Steven Monday -- who was appointed to the board when former Board member Jason Hopper resigned – have all filed to retain their positions as trustees. Newcomers Phillip Jones and Kelly Collins are also running for a seat on the school board.