Published: February 27, 2008 06:20 pm      

Few candidates filing for May city, school elections

By Tommy Mann Jr.

The Orange Leader



Less than two weeks remain for residents who wish to register for the May 10 elections in their respective city or school district to get their names on the ballot.

March 10 is the deadline to file for residents who are interested in serving their respective cities, including Orange, West Orange, Pinehurst, Bridge City, Vidor, Rose City and Pine Forest, or school district such as West Orange-Cove, Little Cypress-Mauriceville, Vidor and Bridge City.

In the city of Orange, terms are ending for Mayor Brown Claybar, and council members Theresa Beauchamp, Place 1, and Cynthia Jackson, Place 3. According to Kerri Kittrell, city secretary, all three incumbents have filed the necessary paperwork to seek re-election but no new candidates have come forward as of Tuesday.

The City of West Orange has three at-large positions open for the May election, including seats held by Shirley Bonnin, Dale Dardeau and Michael Shugart Jr.

All three incumbents have filed the paperwork to retain their seats, while no opposition has yet to file.

In Pinehurst, three seats will be open for the May election, which includes the office of mayor and two at-large council positions.

Billy Permenter, who has been serving as the city’s mayor since Jerry Hussey resigned last September, has decided he will not seek to retain the office of mayor this election.

However, his brother, T.W. Permenter, who is currently a council member in Pinehurst, has submitted the necessary paperwork and will be a candidate for mayor. No other mayoral candidates had filed as of Wednesday.

Current council members Bob Williams and John Zerko have filed the necessary paperwork to seek re-election.

If T.W Permenter does become mayor, then the process of filling his vacated position will be dealt with after the election.

In Bridge City, four terms are expiring this year, including the office of mayor, which is held by Kirk Roccaforte, and council positions held by Mike Reed, Place 2; David Rutledge, Place 4; and Louis Davis, Place 6.

According to Sherry Tisdale, city secretary, all four incumbents have filed for re-election. As of Tuesday, Tisdale said no new candidates have filed.

The city of Vidor has three council positions open for the election in May as terms are expiring for Weldon LeBlanc, Ward 2, Mike Harris, Ward 3, and Dale Madeley, Ward 5.

As of Tuesday, only LeBlanc and Harris had filed the necessary paperwork for re-election.

Two at-large council seats, which are currently occupied by Dorothy Barras and Josh Longs, are open for the May election in Rose City.

As of Tuesday neither incumbent has filed the appropriate paperwork for re-election, nor have any new candidates.

As of Tuesday, the city of Pine Forest looks to have an election on its hands this May.

Three seats are open for election this spring, including seats occupied by Dana Dryden, Place 2; Charlatte Whitehead, Place 3; and James Brown, Place 4.

Of the three incumbents, only Whitehead has filed for re-election.

As of Tuesday, Pine Forest resident Don Lemp has filed for the Place 2 seat, while Clinton Lee Gordon has filed the appropriate paperwork for the Place 3 position.

Four Orange County school districts could possibly hold elections this spring depending on the number of candidates who file prior to the March 10 deadline.

The West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District has two board members with terms expiring in 2008. As of Tuesday neither Nancy Byers nor Dr. Mary Fontenot Hardin had filed the appropriate paperwork to seek re-election this May.

Three terms are expiring for school board members in the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Consolidated Independent School District, which includes Brenda Mott, Ernest Egulf and Keith Kyle.

All three have completed the paperwork needed to seek re-election and no other candidates had come forward as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Bridge City Independent School District has two seats which will be open in the election this May. School board members Tom Orozco, Place 6, and Mark Anderson, Place 7, have both filed to seek re-election this May. No opposing candidates had come forward as of Tuesday.

Vidor ISD has two seats open on the Board of Trustees, and at least one will be occupied by a new board member.

Rollie Burr announced he would not seek re-election this year after serving more than 15 years on the Board of Trustees, thus leaving the Position 6 open.

Tim Harland, the current Position 7 school board member, has completed the required forms in order to seek re-election.

As of Tuesday, only Joe Williamson, a former Vidor ISD superintendent, had completed the required paperwork to participate in the May election, and he will seek the Position 6 seat.

Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com