-
(ARCHIVE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming May election is approaching at the beginning of April. The ballot will have multiple contested races across Young County.
County residents have until the beginning of April to register to vote in the upcoming May election with local contested races on the ballot.
On the ballot in May will be local elections for the Graham Hospital District, Newcastle ISD, Olney ISD and the city of Olney.
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 election will be Thursday, April 2 and the last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Monday, April 20.
Early voting is being held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 and April 22-24 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 27-28.
Early voting locations are the Young County Annex at 417 Second St. in Graham and the Olney Civic Center at 210 S Grand Ave in Olney.
Election day voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Election day polling locations will be the two early voting locations along with First Baptist Church in Newcastle at 501 Graham St.
The candidate 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.
Local candidates in ballot order
Graham Hospital District Candidates
Incumbent Graham Regional Medical Center Board of Director members Wyatt Pettus, Suzy Graham and Sylvia Overton refiled along with new candidate Gary Elrod.
Board Member
Suzy Graham (I)
Gary Elrod
Sylvia Overton (I)
Wyatt Pettus (I)
Newcastle ISD Candidates
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.
Board Member Place 6
Shelly Shields (I)
Tina Hawkins
Board Member Place 7
Carla Short
JP Coop
City of Olney Candidates
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.
Mayor
Rue Rogers (I)
Council Member
Tommy Kimbro
Terri Wipperman (I)
Sammy Livingston
Jacqueline Voyles
Steven Kinyk
Colson Ballard
Olney ISD Candidates
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.
Board Member Place 6
Jeremy Johnson
Kyle Turney
Board Member Place 7
Kelly Mahler (I)
