The filing window came to a close last Friday for the May 10 General Election for school districts and cities, and there will be several contested elections this spring. City elections will be held in Timpson, Tenaha, and Joaquin; and school trustee elections in Timpson, Tenaha, Joaquin and Shelbyville ISDs. The Cities of Joaquin and Huxley only had incumbents file, so they have avoided the need for an election.

 

In the City of Timpson, the position of mayor has drawn two candidates, as incumbent Debra Smith is challenged by Councilman George Grace. There will be no council election, as incumbents Yvonne Ramsey and Ronnie Wolfe filed uncontested.

 

There will be three vying for two trustee positions on the Timpson ISD board of trustees, as incumbents Joyce Wolfe and Stephen Burgay are challenged by Jim Rader.

 

In the City of Tenaha, there’s two vying for position of mayor. Running for the job are current mayor Orinthia Johnson, and challenger Claudine Wilson Howard. Current councilman Mark Hickson has withdrawn for running for re-election to a full two-year term and will face Michael Baker for a one-year term. As for the two available two-year terms, incumbent Durand Steadman and Tommy Rinkle will fill those openings without an election.

 

At the Tenaha ISD, two trustee positions are up for election and five are running. Filing are incumbents Mark Looney and Tracy Collins, and challengers David Fallin, Michael Ogden and Vickie Jernigan.

 

The Joaquin ISD will be filling three trustee positions with six running. The only incumbent to filed was John Paul Lawson. Also seeking seats are Rodney Harper, James Hamilton, Thomas Harvey, Chrisco Bragg and Pam Hearnsberger.

 

The Shelbyville ISD has two positions open, with four running. They are incumbents Tiffanne Klein and Faye Dale Allen, along with challengers Tim Bradshaw and Mark Bohannon.

 

Early voting for the city and school board races will be April 28 thru May 6.

 

Again, not all entities still observe the May election schedule, as some now wait until November. The City of Center and City of San Augustine, along with the Center ISD, San Augustine ISD, Broaddus ISD, and Excelsior ISDs now wait till November.