Mail applications available
By Donnie A. Lucas
The Shackelford County Hospital District is the lone entity that drew a contested race among the six county governing bodies, allowing the other five to cancel their May 7 elections.
Seven candidates signed up for three available two-year hospital board terms, including incumbent Myra Hise along with Jason Price, Mary Beth Jones, Kayla Herron, Rochelle Stewart, Kraymer Harbold, and Elizabeth Roysdon.
The hospital board election, which is county-wide, will be consolidated this year with a county-wide state legislative amendments referendum and handled through the county clerk’s office.
“The clerk’s office has been kind enough to allow us to join their election,” hospital district secretary Regina Whitt said. “Because there is an amendment election on the same date, we can be on the same ballot.”
Having both elections at the same polling place and on the same county-wide ballot will allow the two entities to split the cost of holding the election, according to county/district clerk Cheri Hawkins.
Early Voting
Applications for early voting by mail can be sent to the county clerk’s office at PO Box 2109, Albany, TX 76430.
“Anyone wanting to request a ballot by mail can call the clerk’s office for us to send them the application,” Hawkins said, “The easiest way is to go the county’s website and print out the application.”
The phone number for the clerk’s office is 325-762-9415, and the website is www.shackelfordcounty.org.
All applications to vote by mail must be received in the clerk’s office by April 26.
The first day to vote early in person is Monday, April 25. Early voting will end on Tuesday, May 3, with the regular election date set for Saturday, May 7 from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse.
Voters should not contact the hospital district office to obtain mail ballot applications.
Cancelled Election
The Fort Griffin Special Utility District appeared to have a contested election at the end of the filing period on Feb. 18. However, incumbent Ken Hill withdrew his name from consideration.
Incumbent Sid Collinsworth and Gary Roan also filed for the two open seats on the board.
The district opted to cancel the election, and with no contested races, other entities are expected to do the same thing.
