Voter registration deadline upcoming for May election

A little over two weeks remain to register to vote in the upcoming Young County local elections in May. On the ballot will be elections for Graham Hospital District, Graham ISD, city of Olney, Olney ISD and city of Newcastle.

The last day to register to vote in the election will be Thursday, April 4. To register to vote, complete a voter registration application and return it to the Young County election office at the Young County Courthouse, room B-1.

To be eligible to register in Texas you must be a U.S. citizen, resident of the county, 18 years old, not a convicted felon and not declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.

The last day to apply for a ballot by mail will be Tuesday, April 23.

To vote by mail in Texas you must be 65 years or older, sick or disabled, be out of the county on election day and during the early voting period, expected to give birth within three weeks before or after election day or be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible.

The election will take place Saturday, May 4 at polling locations around Young County. Early voting in the election will run from Monday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 30.

The filing period for political subdivision seats up for election in May was open from Wednesday, Jan. 17 through Friday, Feb. 16.

City of Graham

The Graham City Council has three seats up for election in May which were are by Alex Heartfield, Shana Wolfe and Jeff Dickinson. Only the incumbents filed for the election so the city canceled the election during a meeting Thursday, Feb. 29.

Graham ISD

The Graham ISD Board of Trustees has two positions up for election in May which are held by Andrea Lowery and Brandon Bates.

Bates filed as the incumbent for his position and new candidate John Brown filed to run for the position held by Lowery. The board of trustees canceled the school board election Wednesday, March 6.

Despite the candidate election being canceled, in May will be a GISD bond election 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.

Olney Hospital District

The Olney Hamilton Hospital Board of Directors has five positions up for election in May which are held by Bob Craig, Rita Choat, Randy Whitmire, Ron Rogers and Lyndsey Miller. Only the incumbents filed for reelection so the board canceled the election Friday, Feb. 23.

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 Own, Joshua Duffield, Jeff Altebaumer and James Coppersmith are running for the open city council positions.

Newcastle ISD

Newcastle ISD has three board members who are up for election in May which are Michael Crossland, Anthony Ford and Tradd Strawbridge. Only the incumbents filed for reelection so the board of trustees canceled the election Monday, Feb. 19.