Early voting approaching in May local elections

Less than two weeks remain before early voting begins for the May general and special elections. On the ballot will be elections for Graham Hospital District, Graham ISD, city of Olney, Olney ISD and city of Newcastle.

Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 2-26 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 29-30. Early voting polling locations will be North Central Texas College at 928 Cherry St. in Graham and Olney Community Library and Arts Center at 807 W. Hamilton St. in Olney.

Election day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Polling locations will be Loving Volunteer Fire Department at 8891 Hwy. 114 East in Loving, First Baptist Church Newcastle at 501 Graham St. in Newcastle, First United Methodist Church at 700 Third St. in Graham and the two early voting polling locations.

The voter registration deadline passed last Thursday. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Tuesday, April 23.

Graham ISD

A GISD bond election will be held with two bond propositions, the first of which will consolidate the district from three to two elementary schools.

This will be accomplished by adding space at Pioneer Elementary School to serve pre-K through second grade students. Minor renovations will be completed at Crestview Elementary School to serve third through fifth grade students.

The proposition would include the demolition of the existing Woodland Elementary School campus, except for the gymnasium.

The estimated cost for Proposition A is $27,500,000 and the anticipated date of completion is August 2026.
Proposition B on the ballot will be for a student multipurpose facility which has an estimated cost of $10,500,000 and an anticipated completed date of August 2025.

Graham Hospital District

Graham Regional Medical Center Board of Directors will have four seats up for election in May which are held by Dr. Donald Behr, Terry Bishop, Jon Garvey and Barry Strickland. The incumbent candidates filed for reelection along with new candidate Mark Freis.

City of Olney

The Olney City Council has three seats up for election in May which are held by Rue Rogers, Tom Parker and Tommy Kimbro.

A special election will be held for the unexpired term of Tom Parker whose resignation was accepted by the Olney City Council in January. The filling period for that election will be Tuesday, Feb. 27 through Monday, March 25.

Incumbent Rue Rogers and new candidate A.D. Patel filed for the position of mayor. New candidates Jackie Griffith-Voyles, Mona Bernhardt, Ruben Torres, Ronnie Cowart, Melissa Scott, Terri Wipperman and Kathy Muncy filed for the open city council position.

Olney ISD

The Olney ISD Board of Trustees has three board members who are up for election in May which are Kenley Lane, Jodee Wales and Mark McClelland.

Incumbent Wales filed to run for his position along with new candidate Landon Rowe. Incumbent Kenley Lane filed to run for his position along with new candidate Ryan Cawthon. New candidate Hannah Stewart filed to run for the position held by McClelland.

Along with the school board election will be a $8.35 million special bond election which the district said will require no tax increase.

After completing an independent safety study, a district campus safety committee was created in Fall 2022 to prioritize the findings of the study and storm shelters were the top priority.

The bond package will include dual-purpose tornado shelters for all students while having everyday use of the shelter space. A storm-safe corridor would be constructed from Olney Elementary School to a new intermediate wing and from Olney High School to the Career and Technology Education Center.

The shelter space would have self-contained classrooms which are dedicated for special education as well add new 5th grade classrooms. The room would address state requirements for intervention and enrichment.

A secure vestibule would be created at the daycare. The project would include protected shelter access for special needs and health-compromised individuals. A dedicated space would be created for an on-campus School Resource Office.

Another aspect of the project would be for easing transitions for students by dedicating space for the Pre-K for All program and the addition of an intermediate wing for 5th, 6th grade connecting OES and Olney Junior High School.

City of Newcastle

The Newcastle City Council has three seats up for election in May which are held by Adrian Ontiveroz, Ronnie Cavitt and Tricia Crossland.

New candidate Josh Bennett filed to run for mayor. New candidates Chad Owen, Joshua Duffield, Jeff Altebaumer and James Coppersmith are running for the open city council positions.

May General, Special Election Ballot

Graham Hospital District Board Members
o Mark Freis
o Donald Behr
o Terry Bishop
o Jon Garvey
o Barrie Strickland

City of Olney
Mayor
o Rue Rogers
o A.D. Patel

City of Olney
Councilmembers
o Ruben Torres
o Melissa Ann Scott
o Mona K. Bernhardt
o Terri T. Whipperman
o Jackie Griffith-Voyles
o Ronnie Cowart
o Kathy Muncy

Special Election
City of Olney
Councilmembers - Unexpired Term
o Lita Browning
o Carol Vorel
o Steven J. Nurre
o Thea Sullivan

Olney ISD
Trustee, Place 1
o Jodee Wales
o Landon Rowe

Olney ISD
Trustee, Place 2
o Kenley Lane
o Ryan Cawthon

Olney ISD
Trustee, Place 3
o Hannah Stewart

City of Newcastle
Mayor
o Josh Bennett

City of Newcastle
City Council
o Jeff A. Altebaumer
o James Coppersmith
o Joshua Duffield
o Chad Owen

Special Election
Graham ISD
Proposition A
“The issuance of $27,500,000 of bonds by the Graham Independent School District for the construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school facilities and safety and security enhancements in the district, and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.”
o For
o Against

Special Election
Olney ISD
Proposition A
“The issuance of $8,350,000 of bonds by the Olney Independent School District for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving and equipping school facilities consisting of safety and security infrastructure and campus and facility upgrades and renovations, and the levy of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds. This is a property tax increase.”
o For
o Against