Published: May 06, 2009 07:58 pm      

Candidates vie for two WO-C CISD positions

WEST ORANGE — Election Day is only two days, and voters will have to decide between five candidates for two seats on the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Registered voters in the West Orange-Cove school district will be able to submit ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, at four locations.

Voting locations can be found at Anderson Elementary School, 902 W. Park Ave., for precinct 1 and 2 voters; North Early Learning Center, 801 Cordrey, for precinct 3, 4, and 5 voters; the Salvation Army, 1950 Martin Luther King Drive, for voters in precincts 8, 13, 14 and 15; and West Orange City Hall, 2700 Western Ave., for voters in precincts 11 and 12.

The seats for the West Orange-Cove CISD Board of Trustees are At-Large positions. A total of five candidates are seeking two open positions.

Incumbents Pete Amy and Eric Mitchell are being challenged by Essie Bellfield, Richard Taylor, III, and Eric Guillory.

Pete Amy currently serves as president of the school board and is seeking re-election. Amy, 52, is married with two children and is a computer programmer at Firestone.

Eric Mitchell, 54, is a six year member of the Board of Trustees. He is married with five children and is a retired police officer with the City of Orange.

Erick Guillory, 39, has resided within the school district his entire life. Guillory is an operator at Firestone and has two children.

Essie Bellfield, 76, has two children and has resided in the school district for approximately 50 years. Bellfield is retired from Orange Memorial Hospital. She is also a former Mayor for the City of Orange and past president of a school Parent Teacher Association.

Richard “Dicky” Taylor III, 43, has been a resident of the school district for 36 years. He is self-employed and married with three children.

One of the main issues awaiting the next version of the Board of Trustees is how the school district will address possible budget issues.

Hurricane Ike dealt a considerable blow the district’s tax base and could reduce funds the district utilizes for maintenance, operation, payroll and more. Finding areas to reduce expenses and still provide needed services will be a key factor.



Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619