Candidates lining up for city council

Only one local government has enough candidates to have a contested election this spring as the sign-up deadline nears this week.

Candidates can continue to file for office at seven local governments through this Friday, February 12.

As of Tuesday, the City of Clarendon had four people running for two positions on the city council. Alderman Jacob Fangman is seeking re-election and will be joined on the ballot by former alderman Tommy Hill, former Clarendon Economic Development board member Terri Floyd, and junior high principal Travis Victory. Mayor Sandy Skelton is also seeking re-election.

According to the Enterprise’s most recent information, the following entities have not yet attracted enough candidates for contested elections: the cities of Hedley and Howardwick; the Clarendon and Hedley school districts; the Donley County Hospital District; and the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District – Precinct 5.

All three incumbents whose seats are expiring on the Donley County Hospital District Board of Directors have filed for re-election to two-year terms. Those officials are Rose Lemley – Place 1, Jeff Robertson – Place 2, and Melinda McAnear – Place 3.

Clarendon ISD Trustees Wayne Hardin and Wes Hatley are running to serve three more years.

Hedley ISD incumbents have also all filed to run again. Dana Bell and Carole Ward are running for their full terms. Bruce Howard is running to continue to serve one year is remaining on the seat formerly held by Billy Hall, and, Shauna Herbert is running to continue to serve out the two years remaining on Susan Cosby’s term.

In Howardwick the terms of Mayor Tony Clemishire and Aldermen Jerry Mullanax and Johnny Floyd are expiring. Those are all two-year terms, and Clemishire and Floyd have filed to run again. Jada Murray has also filed to run for alderman.

Hedley has three aldermen’s seats up this year. Those are two-year terms and are currently held by Aldermen Tonya Metcalf, Alicia Hanes, and Trisha Chambless. Incumbents Metcalf and Hanes have filed to run, and Tom Carson is also running.

The Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors has five directors up for election this year, including the four-year term currently held by Chancy Cruse – Precinct 5, which encompasses most of Donley County.

All local boards are elected at-large, but hospital board candidates must file for a specific place on the ballot. Candidate applications are available from the administrative offices of each entity.

Elections are scheduled to be held Saturday, May 1, 2021.