The Clarendon Enterprise

Dateline: March 11, 2004

Candidates still lining up for local offices

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Several races are shaping up as Monday’s deadline to sign up for local offices approaches.

While some boards are still looking for candidates, three local governments will definitely hold contested elections, and a small shake up appears eminent at a fourth.

At press time, the City of Clarendon has four candidates running for three seats on the Board of Aldermen. Incumbents Tommy Hill, Janice Knorpp, and Mark White will be joined on the ballot by challenger Ron Lamberth.

In Hedley, three people have signed up to run for two at-large positions on the board of aldermen. Pamela Casteel is challenging incumbents Leon Ward and Terry Stevens. Mayor Janie Hill is running unopposed for re-election.

At the Donley County Hospital District, Linda Kay Bell is challenging incumbent Carolyn Moffett for her Place 5 seat on the Board of Directors. Incumbents Onita Thomas and Jim Douglas are running for re-election to their Place 6 and Place 7 seats. And Kelly Tunnell has signed up to run for the Place 4 seat formerly held by the late Jerry May.

With three positions up this year, Howardwick has two incumbents – Bobby Murdock and Sam Grider – signed up to run for re-election. Meanwhile, H.L. “Buster” Baird has also filed to run for a full term. He is currently on the board, serving the unexpired term of Dewey Linley. If Baird is elected, the board would again have to appoint someone for the remaining time of Linley’s term.

Boards still looking for candidates include the Hedley ISD Board of Trustees with three positions up this year, and only incumbent Marlee Sharp has signed up. Clarendon ISD offices were closed for spring break this week, but as of last Monday only incumbent Marvin Thompson had signed up for one of the three positions available on the CISD board.

Clarendon College offices were also closed this week for spring break. CC reported last week that all three incumbents – Ruth Robinson, Susie Shields, and Charles Deyhle, Sr. – had filed to run for re-election to the Board of Regents.