City, school election filings start Jan. 17

As campaigning is heating up in the March Republican primary election for county offices, filing will be starting for May elections to city councils and school boards.

This year, Bridge City, Orange, and Pinehurst will have elections for mayor, with incumbents in the three seats.

Besides the city council elections, four of the five public school districts in the county will have elections for boards of trustees. In addition, the Orange County Port and Navigation Board, along with the Orange County Drainage District, will have elections for their governing boards.

Filing for the office vacancies will begin on Wednesday, January 17, and continue through Friday, February 16. The filings are conducted during the entity's regular business hours. City council filings are made in the city secretary's office, while school district filings are through the assistant in the superintendent's office. The election will be Saturday, May 4.

Candidates in the city, school, and special district elections do not run as representatives of any political party.

In Bridge City, the seat of mayor will be open. Incumbent David Rutledge has served four two-year terms. Also up for election will be Place 2, currently held by Mike Reed; Place 4, now held by Patty Collins, and Place 6, with incumbent Sherby Dixon. Anyone qualified resident of the city may run for any of the positions.

Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr. will also be up for re-election this year. He has one last three-year term before the city's term limits will apply. The other open position is for Single Member District 1, with David Bailey as the incumbent. Bailey is currently running in the Republican primary race for County Precinct 2 constable.

Orange is the only city in the county with single-member districts. The city's four districts each have a council seat representing their area and only residents within that district may vote. Also, a candidate must live within that district for at least six months. The mayor's seat, along with two at-large positions, are chosen by all voters in the city. Neither of the two at-large spots are open this year.

In West Orange, at-large positions currently held by Mike Shugart Sr., Lanie Brown, and Jay Odom will be up for two-year terms.

Pinehurst Mayor Sarah McClendon will be up for another two-year term. The seats of councilors Cynthia Adams and Greg Willis will also be on the ballot for two-year terms. Incumbent Joey Vance will be running for a year's left on an unexpired term. All positions are at-large.

In an unusual situation last year, Vance did not run for re-election because he though his new job would not allow him time off for meetings. No one filed to run in the election. After the election, the seat was officially vacant. When Vance learned his new employer would give him time off, the council appointed him to the vacancy.

The Orange County Port and Navigation board of commissioners has five members. The spots open this year are Precinct 2 held by Walter Mullins III, and Precinct 3, held by John Montagne, who currently serves as board president.

The Bridge City school board has two openings this year. Candidates file for a place and all qualified voters in the district vote for all positions. Place 1 has Paul Zoch as incumbent, with Judy Cole holding Place 2.

West Orange-Cove CISD has the terms of two at-large members expiring this year. The incumbents are Roderick Robertson and LaTricia Stroud.

For the Little Cypress-Mauriceville school board, the spot currently held by Tammy Roundtree is expiring.

And in Vidor, the school board will have the position held by Carrie Vincent open.