The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

With the passing of the filing deadline this past Friday, the ballots have been set for the May 7 general election.

Only a handful of elections are scheduled in May, but the community of Bridge City will have a lot to consider as change could be in the air with numerous races on the ballot between city and school.

City of Bridge City

The City of Bridge City has three races on the ballot this spring. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte and Place 2 councilman Mike Reed have reached term limits and cannot seek re-election for those respective positions.

Roccaforte has chosen to file for the Place 2 seat and will be opposed by last minute candidate, Carl Harbert.

In Place 4, incumbent Eric Andrus is seeking re-election and will be opposed by candidate Phillip Todora Jr., while Place 6 councilman Danny Cole. who is also seeking re-election is opposed by a pair of former Bridge City councilmembers, Lucy Fields and Kevin Mott.

Current Place 1 councilman David Rutledge has filed for the open position of Mayor and will be unopposed.

Bridge City ISD

The Bridge City Independent School District will have a busy May election as all three incumbents have filed for re-election and will be opposed.

Rebecca Rutledge, the Place 3 incumbent, will be opposed by Bryan Gremillion, while Place 4 incumbent, Thad Hill, will face off against candidate Bryant Champagne. In Place 5, incumbent Jerry McInnis will be opposed by Brandy Slaughter.

City of Orange

The City of Orange will only have one race on the May ballot as incumbent Mary McKenna of District 4 will be opposed by former councilmember Annette Pernell.

Incumbents Dr. Wayne Guidry, District 2, and Bill Mello, Place 5, will be unopposed.

West Orange-Cove CISD

Several filings on Thursday and Friday have assured the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District will have an election for its Board of Trustees on May 7. There are three at-large positions available and six candidates seeking those seats.

Incumbents Linda Platt-Bryant and Bryan Thomas Muhammad have filed for re-election and will be opposed by former WO-C CISD Trustees Ricky Jacobs and Tony Dallas, as well as new candidates Demetrius Hunter and Bonnie Moses.

OC WC&ID 2

Orange County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2 will have an election for its Board of Directors this May.

Incumbents Jerry Foreman and Linda Primeaux have filed for re-election and will be opposed by new candidate, Grayling Mouton.

City of West Orange

The City of West Orange will not have an election this May as incumbents Shirley Bonnin, Dale Dardeau and Mike Shugart Sr. are unopposed.

City of Pinehurst

The City of Pinehurst will not have an election this spring either.

Mayor Pete Runnels will be unopposed on the May ballot, as will incumbent councilman John Zerko and new candidate, and former councilman, Dan Barclay.

LC-M CISD

Incumbents Rex Peveto and Ray Rogers, Position 6 and Position 7, respectively, of the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District's Board of Trustees have filed for re-election and will be unopposed.

Orange County Navigation and Port District

The Orange County Navigation and Port District will not have an election in May either, as incumbents Barbara Winfree, Precinct 2, and Jimmy Smith, Precinct 3, are unopposed.

Orange County Drainage District

The Orange County Drainage District's Board of Directors will not have an election in May, as incumbents J.B. Arrington and Jimmy Scales, Precinct 2 and Precinct 3, respectively, will be unopposed.

Mauriceville MUD

The Mauriceville Municipal Utility District will not have an election in May as both appointees to vacated positions, Dennis Rountree and Jay Scheiderer, have filed to retain those seats on the May ballot.

Early voting for the general election is from Monday, April 25 through Tuesday, May 3. Election day will be Saturday, May 7.