Candidates file for local seats in May election

Candidates across Young County filed for a place on the ballot in May, with both contested and uncontested races upcoming.

The filing period was open from Wednesday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Feb. 13. The last day to file a declaration of write-in candidacy was Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Candidate applications could be obtained and submitted for the May election from each separate county entity.
 
Local entities that had seats up for election in May were the city of Graham, Graham ISD, Graham Hospital District, city of Newcastle, Newcastle ISD, city of Olney, Olney ISD and Olney Hamilton Hospital District.

Contested elections will be held for the Graham Hospital District, Newcastle ISD, city of Olney and Olney ISD. Other open seats either had one candidate who filed, the incumbent was the sole filer for the position, or there were no filings and the seat is now open.

Early voting in the May election will run from April 20-28 and election day will be Saturday, May 2. The last day to register to vote in the May election will be Thursday, April 2 and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Monday, April 20.

Shown below are local elections in May and candidates who filed to run for open seats. If an election has no opposition for an open seat, those elections can be canceled by the boards of the local entities.

Local Candidates by Entity

City of Graham Candidates

• Mayor
Alex Heartfield (Incumbent)
• Council Member Place 1
Sarah Lundgren
•Council Member Place 2
Jeff Dickinson (Incumbent)

Mayor Alex Heartfield and Council Member Jeff Dickinson filed for reelection to their seats on the city council. Council Member Shana Wolfe has exceeded the maximum amount of terms she can serve and could not file for reelection. Sarah Lundgren was the sole candidate to file for Wolfe’s seat.

Graham ISD Candidates

• Board Member Place 6
Brandon Joy (Incumbent)
• Board Member Place 7
Kristina Pettus (Incumbent)

Graham ISD board members Brandon Joy and Kristina Pettus refiled for their seats on the GISD Board of Trustees. The incumbents were the only candidates that filed for those respective seats.

Graham Hospital District Candidates

•Board Member
Wyatt Pettus (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Suzy Graham (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Sylvia Overton (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Gary Elrod

Incumbent Graham Regional Medical Center Board of Director members Wyatt Pettus, Suzy Graham and Sylvia Overton refiled along with new candidate Gary Elrod.

City of Newcastle Candidates

•Mayor
Dickey Baynes (Incumbent)
•Council Member
Chad Owen (Incumbent)
•Council Member 
Open

Mayor Dickey Baynes refiled along with Council Member Chad Owen for Newcastle City Council. Council Member Jeff Altebaumer did not file for reelection to his seat and no new candidates filed for that position.

Newcastle ISD Candidates

•Board Member Place 6
Shelly Shields (Incumbent)
•Board Member Place 6
Tina Hawkins
•Board Member Place 7
JP Coop
•Board Member Place 7
Carla Short

Newcastle ISD Board of Trustees member Shelly Shields filed to run for reelection along with new candidate Tina Hawkins. Board Member Anneta Buenger did not file for reelection. New candidates who filed to run for that position are JP Coop and Carla Short.

City of Olney Candidates

•Mayor
Rue Rogers (Incumbent)
•Council Member 
Tommy Kimbro
•Council Member 
Jackie Voyles
•Council Member
Terri Wipperman (Incumbent)
•Council Member
Colson Ballard
•Council Member
Steven Kinyk
•Council Member
Sammy Livingston

Two Olney City Council seats are up for election and six candidates filed to run for those two positions. Those candidates are Tommy Kimbro, Jackie Voyles, Terri Wipperman, Colson Ballard, Steven Kinyk and Sammy Livingston. Incumbent Rue Rogers was the sole candidate to file for the seat of mayor.

Olney ISD Candidates

•Board Member Place 6
Kyle Turney
•Board Member Place 6
Jeremy Johnson
•Board Member Place 7
Kelly Mahler (Incumbent)

Olney ISD Board of Trustees member Kyle Hinson did not file for reelection, with new candidates Kyle Turner and Jeremy Johnson filing to run for that position. Incumbent Kelly Mahler was the sole candidate to file for that board position.

Olney Hamilton Hospital District Candidates

•Board Member
Carl Craig (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Rita Choat (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Kathrine Smith (Incumbent)
•Board Member
Ronald Rogers  (Incumbent)

The four incumbents up for election with the Olney Hamilton Hospital District Board of Directors filed for reelection and were the sole candidates to file. Those candidates were Carl Craig, Rita Choat, Kathrine Smith and Ronald Rogers.