Local election filings grow with opposed race as deadline approaches
By Melinda L. Lucas
Several new candidates for local offices have emerged during the past week, with the filing deadline now two weeks away on Feb. 14.
There is now at least one opposed race for the May 3 elections, with John Gallagher and Teagan Brown both running for Place 7, the seat being vacated by Kim Fuentes on the Albany ISD’s board of trustees.
Other elections could be cancelled if there are no opposed races when the month-long filing period ends, although both incumbents and newcomers have filed for various places since filing began Jan. 15.
As of press time on Tuesday, candidates for the six local elections were as follows:
Albany ISD
Board of Trustees
Teagan Brown and John Patrick Gallagher have both filed for Place 7 on the Albany ISD’s board of trustees.
Incumbents Matt Bellah in Place 5 and Joe Tidwell in Place 6 have also turned in their paperwork.
Applications to file for the election are available at the superintendent’s office in person at 501 E. S. 1st Street, by emailing Lynsi Musselman at lmusselman@albany.esc14.net or by faxing 325-762-3876.
Albany City Council
Council incumbent Don Taggart filed this week, joining Albany mayor Susan Montgomery and fellow council incumbent Lynsi Musselman.
Applications are available at Albany City Hall for the at-large two-year terms.
Anyone seeking additional information can contact City Hall at 325-762-3133.
Hospital Board
The Shackelford County Hospital District’s board has three two-year terms expiring this spring including Jo Ann Estridge, Mike Folsom, and Maggie Viertel, and an unexpired one-year term resulting from the resignation of Michelle Alexander.
Karin Cox and Anita Jackson have completed their paperwork for candidacy.
Hospital district secretary Regina Whitt said Tuesday that a couple of others, including incumbent Jo Ann Estridge, have picked up applications, but had not yet returned them.
Election information and applications are available at the district’s office in the EMS building. Contact Whitt for more information at 325-762-3313.
Hospital board candidates must have their application petitions signed by 10 registered Shackelford County voters in order to file.
Moran City Council
The Moran city council will fill two at-large positions for two-year terms on the council this spring, as well as the mayor’s seat.
Mayor Tyler George filed for re-election this last week, as did council incumbent Tyler Kinman. Patricia Martin has completed her application to run. The other current incumbent, Christal Herrell, has not filed.
In addition, Moran city secretary Mindy Brooker said this week that Dora Cook Leonard had resigned from the council, effective Jan. 15, leaving a one-year unexpired term to be filled.
Anyone with questions can contact Brooker at the Moran City office on weekday mornings at 325-945-3441.
Moran ISD
Board of Trustees
Two three-year terms on the Moran ISD board are ending this spring, subject to re-election.
Incumbents include Alice Branham and Sam Snyder.
Packets to file for a place on the ballot are available in the school superintendent’s office during regular school hours.
Fort Griffin SUD
Board of Trustees
Two of the three-year terms on the local special utilities district board will expire this year.
The positions currently held by Mike Bartock and Sid Collinsworth are up for election.
For more information on filing for one of these seats, contact Carrie Holson at the SUD office, 325-762-2575.
