Rich Flowers
The Athens Review
— The month-long filing opens Monday for municipal and school board elections in Texas.
There are three terms coming to a close on both Athens City Council or Athens Independent School District Board. The last day to file will be March 8, and election day will be May 8.
The terms for three Athens City council positions will be up for election this year. Place 2, currently held by Elaine Jenkins, and Place 3 occupied by Carol Barton, will be decided.
Place 4 which has been held by Aubrey Jones, since the resignation of longtime councilman Carroll Maberry, will also be on the ballot.
Maberry stepped down at the Jan. 25 meeting, saying it was “time for the young people to take over.”
Jones was sworn in the same night to serve the three months until a new member could be elected. Those who wish to file for a council seat must live in the district for which they file, be current on all taxes, and be registered to vote in the city.
The three available AISD seats are currently held by Place 5 Trustee Raymond Williams, Place 6 Board Member David Freeman and Place 7 Representative Robert Spears. Williams was first elected in 2007, while Freeman and Spears came aboard in 2001.
If no contested election develops in the municipal or school elections, the balloting can be canceled. Several times in recent years, including 2009, the city of Athens has not been required to hold elections.
The AISD had a contested race in 2009 when incumbent Ginger Kirk defeated Will Davies.
April 8 is the last day to register to vote in the May 8 elections.
