Incumbents file for local elections
By Donnie A. Lucas
With about two weeks remaining in the filing period for local May 7 elections, a few incumbents have signed up for another term but no challengers have signed up yet.
Board member posts and council positions are subject to election by the public for both Albany and Moran school boards and city councils, along with the Shackelford County Hospital District and the Fort Griffin SUD.
Candidates have until Friday, Feb. 18 to have their names placed on the ballots for any of the local elections.
Albany School Board
All three incumbents on the Albany ISD board have filed for another three-year term, according to the superintendent’s office on Tuesday.
Matt Bellah, appointed during the December meeting to replace longtime trustee Kelly Head who resigned earlier in the fall, signed up for his Place 5 seat.
Likewise, incumbents Joe Tidwell and Kim Neece Fuentes both turned in the required applications for the Place 6 and Place 7 seats respectively.
Applications to file for the election are available in the superintendent’s office adjacent to the tennis courts at the secondary campus.
Albany City Council
According to Albany City Hall, none of the current council members have yet filed for another two-year term.
Terms ending this year are those of Lester Galbreath, Ragan Riley, and Austin Sherwood.
Council members are selected by the top three candidates who receive the most votes in the at-large election.
Applications for the election are available at City Hall. For more information, contact the city office at 325-762-3133.
Hospital Board
As of Tuesday, no one had filed for the three expiring seats on the Shackelford County hospital board. However, two incumbents and one newcomer have picked up applications and petitions to start the process to file for three two-year terms open this year, which are selected at-large.
According to the district office, incumbents Chris Beard and Myra Hise have obtained the required paperwork but neither had officially filed.
The other incumbent is John Peterson, who has not indicated if he plans to run for re-election.
Hospital board candidates are required to pick up an application and petition form to collect at least 10 signatures of currently registered voters in the county in order to file for office.
The forms are available at the district office located in the EMS building. Contact Regina Whitt for more information at 325-762-3313.
Moran City Council
The election picture changed for the Moran city council over the last week.
Councilman Tyler George, whose term is ending in May, was appointed as mayor last week to fill the post that Steve Taggart’s resignation left vacant.
George will now have to file for the one-year unexpired term remaining on the term for mayor, and his council seat will open up.
Incumbent council members Dora Cook Leonard and Kimberly York both signed up last week for additional two-year terms of office, leaving the seat occupied by George up for election.
Anyone with questions can contact the city office on weekday mornings at 325-945-3441.
Moran School Board
As of Tuesday, no one had filed for the two three-year terms on the Moran ISD board.
Incumbents are Alice Branham and Sam Snyder.
Those interested in running should contact the superintendent’s office at the school, 325-945-3101, during regular school hours.
Fort Griffin SUD
The special district will be electing two members for three-year terms of office this year. The positions are currently held by Kenneth Hill and Sid Collingsworth, but neither has filed yet.
For information on how to file for one of the seats on the board, contact Carrie Holson at 325-762-2575.
