Dateline: March 13, 2008

Sign up period closes

Three out of seven local boards have attracted enough candidates to hold elections this spring.

The signup period closed Monday with only the City of Clarendon, Clarendon ISD, and Hedley ISD having more citizens interested in holding office than there are seats available.

At the city, incumbents Tommy Hill and Chris Ford will be joined on the ballot by Jim R. Phillie, Billy Ray Johnston, and Kyle Davis in an election for three positions. Alderman Janice Knorpp did not file for re-election.

Two positions are available on the CISD Board of Trustees, and incumbents Weldon Sears and Lance Thornberry will be challenged by Travis Wilson.

Hedley ISD has three positions available on its Board of Trustees. Incumbents Kelly Patton, Blain Burton, and Rex Morris will be joined on the ballot by challengers James Potts, Bonnie Walsh, and Tonja Ruthardt.

Elections for city and school offices will be held Saturday, May 10.

The Donley County Hospital Board, which as been the subject of much talk recently, has four seats open this year but only drew two candidates. Incumbent Mark C. White will run again for his Place 6 position, and former nursing home administrator Vicky Robertson has filed for the Place 5 position. Incumbents Gene Hommel, Carolyn Moffet, and Bright Newhouse are not running for re-election.

The City of Howardwick is electing three aldermen, and has three candidates running  – incumbents Lee Ann Cook and Rod Donaldson along with Tanis McMorries.

The Clarendon College District will choose three members for the Board of Regents, and incumbents John Howard, Bill Sansing, and Jack Moreman have filed for re-election.

The City of Hedley had only Mayor Janie Hill and Aldermen Leon Ward and Ricki Baker running for their current positions.

Local boards with unchallenged candidates will likely cancel this year’s elections within the next few weeks.