Candidates signing up now

With just over a week to go in the sign-up period for the spring elections, local candidates have begun filing for local offices.

Filing runs through Friday, February 19. Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 7, 2016.

The cities of Clarendon, Hedley, and Howardwick; the Clarendon and Hedley school districts; the Clarendon College District; and the Donley County Hospital District all have board positions available this year.

Clarendon Aldermen Beverly Burrow and Larry Jeffers have signed up to run again, but Alderman John Lockhart had not signed up for re-election as of Monday afternoon.

Three positions in Hedley are expiring this year. Mayor Leon Ward and Aldermen Lonnie Roby and Dusty Wilkinson have not yet signed up for re-election. One citizen has turned in paperwork to run for office but has not decided whether to run for mayor or alderman.

Incumbent Howardwick Alderman Mac Miller is seeking re-election, and Eric Riddle has also signed up to run for one of the three positions up this year. Incumbents Robert Brewster and Sam Grider have not filed yet.

Clarendon ISD has three Trustee positions up this year, and incumbents Robin Ellis and Chuck Robertson are seeking re-election. Incumbent Jim Shelton has not yet filed.

Hedley ISD has two incumbents that intend to seek re-election – Michael Metcalf and Billy Hall. Two other terms are also up, those of Aaron Harper and Lana Ritchie. There are two full terms and two partial terms available on the Hedley Board of Trustees this year.

Clarendon College Regents Ruth Robinson, Susie Shields, and Lon Adams are all seeking re-election to their full terms. Darlene Spier, who was appointed to a partial term after John Howard resigned to serve as county judge, had not filed as of Monday afternoon.

The Donley County Hospital District has four two-year terms up this year. Those are currently held by Jan Farris – Place 4, Jennie Owens – Place 5, Lori Howard – Place 6, and Mark C. White – Place 7. None of the incumbents had signed up at press time.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the ballot.

City positions and hospital board members serve two year terms, school board members serve three-year terms, and college regents’ terms are six years.