Three boards to have competitive elections this year

Three local governments will hold competitive elections this spring, while three other governments might cancel their elections due to a lack of candidates.

The City of Clarendon, the Clarendon ISD, and the City of Hedley have contested races and will hold elections.

Clarendon Mayor Larry Hicks has filed to run for his office again, and three candidates are running for the two open aldermen’s positions – incumbent Janice Knorpp former aldermen Tommy Hill and Terry Noble.

Clarendon ISD has three candidates for two trustees’ positions up this year. Incumbent Weldon Sears is seeking re-election, and Che Shadle and former board member Renee Betts have also filed as a candidate.

The City of Hedley has four candidates for its three alderman positions – incumbents Tonya Metcalf, Travis Ruthardt, and David Wells and challenger Michelle Copelin.

Hedley ISD and the Donley County Hospital District each has one candidate for each position, while the City of Howardwick has only one candidate filed. Each of those governments may end up canceling their elections if no write-in candidates emerge in the next few days.

Hedley ISD had four positions open and four candidates declared. Incumbents Ted Wright, Tonja Ruthardt, and Karen Watt were all seeking re-election; and Bobby Lindsey also filed to run.

Donley County Hospital Board Directors Wayne Tubbs (Place 1) and Melinda McAnear (Place 3) are seeking re-election, and Bob Watson has filed to run for Place 2.

Howardwick has only candidate at this time. Mayor Del Essary is seeking another term, but there were no candidates file for the two aldermen’s positions up this year.

Positions on city boards of aldermen and the hospital board are two-year terms, and school board terms are for three years.

Write-in candidates can file through March 21. Election Day will be Saturday, May 14, 2011.