Dateline: March 27, 2003

Deadline passes to file for local offices

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Candidates for local offices came out of the woodwork before the filing deadline passed last Wednesday.

The City of Clarendon now has seven citizens running for two positions on the Board of Aldermen. Incumbents Bob Watson and Michael Tibbets will face Carl Draper, Allen Estlack, Bobbie Kidd, Ricky Rattan, and Jimmy Swinney. Mayor Tex Selvidge drew no opponent in his re-election bid.

In Howardwick where no candidates at all had signed up earlier last week, former alderman Nancy Davis filed to run for mayor, and Alderman Bobby Murdock resigned his current position to run against her. Aldermen Dewey Linley and Mike Rowland also signed up to run for re-election.

Contested races have also developed for two positions on the Hedley School Board where incumbents Troy Monroe and Cary Don Neely will face LeAnn Marcum and Dan Bolin.

Don Thornberry drew no opposition in his re-election bid for Place One on the Donley County Hospital Board, but incumbent Nelson Christie at Place Two and incumbent Andy Wheatley at Place Three face challenges from Alan Fletcher and Bill Holden respectively.

Pending any write-in candidacies, the City of Hedley and the Clarendon Independent School District will not have competitive elections this year. All incumbents filed for re-election on those boards.

The election for local offices will be held Saturday, May 3, 2003.