Interest high in May election

Polls open Saturday at the Support Center at 7 a.m.

By Rich Flowers News Editor

Early vote totals show a keener interest in the Athens Independent School District bond proposal than the one presented in May of 2008.

Saturday will be the last chance to cast a ballot this election cycle. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Support Center, on 104 Hawn Street.

The AISD has two proposals on the ballot. Proposition 1 calls for the issuance of $7.5 million in bonds to “construct, renovate and equip classrooms and facilities at Athens Middle School, South Athens Elementary School and Athens High School.”

Proposition 2 is for the issuance of $18.2 million in bonds “for the purpose of constructing a new elementary school.” Voters can approve or deny both items, or choose to approve either of the propositions while denying the other.

AISD voters will also select a board trustee In Place 4, where incumbent Ginger Kirk has drawn a challenge from Will Davies.

“It’s good to see the interest,” Athens Independent School District Superintendent Fred Hayes said. “We certainly know that people are thinking about the schools and thinking about the children.”

In addition to conducting early balloting at the Support Center, the AISD offered voters a chance to cast ballots one night only at six other locations within the district.

“We had a good turnout at each of our branch votes,” Hayes said. “We had about 90 at each of those places.”

In May 2008, a $28.4 million bond package was rejected by a vote of 934 to 763. Votes to pass the bond had led after the early balloting by 294 to 184.

The 2009 early vote totals fell short of the pre-election day ballots cast in November 2008, when a record presidential vote ballooned the AISD numbers.

In November, AISD voters were offered two propositions. Proposition 1, failed by a count of 3,526 to 3,334 — a difference of 192 votes. Proposition 2, passed by a margin of 3,633 to 3,158, a difference of 475 votes.

Early voters favored Proposition 1, by a 1,934 to 1,851 count. Proposition 2, won a larger margin of the early ballots, 2094 to 1,648.

“A lot of that has to do with those branch voting nights,” Hayes said. “At those you get a turnout of people with children in those schools, who see needs of those schools every day, so you get a greater percentage of yes votes. That’s true of elections throughout the state.”

The City of Athens will not require an election because only the incumbents, Mayor Randy Daniel and Councilman Jerry Don Vaught filed for the two available seats.

The following is a list of May 9 city elections and their polling places. All boxes are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Chandler — Chandler Community Center;

• Eustace — Eustace City Hall;

• Log Cabin — Log Cabin City Hall;

• Malakoff — Malakoff City Hall;

• Seven Points — Malakoff City Hall;

• Tool — Oran White Community Center and

• Trinidad — Trinidad City Hall.

Districts conducting school board races and their polling places:

• Brownsboro Independent School District — Brownsboro Junior High School, Moore Station Water Supply District, Chandler Community Center;

• La Poynor Independent School District — administration building and

• Malakoff Independent School District — Malakoff City Hall and Oran White Community Center.

The complete list of candidates for city races includes:

• Chandler — Joy Rains has filed for mayor. Marshall Crawford Jr., Barbara Reeves and Bobby Lankford have filed for the two available council seats.

• Eustace — There are two filings for mayor, Mayor Laura Ward and challenger Donald Siegel. Incumbents Lisa Roberts and Karyn Mullen filed for city council, as are Sherry Burkett and Jack Wallace. There are three open seats.

• Log Cabin — Billy Goodwyn has filed for re-election as mayor. There are four candidates for the two council seats: Larry Nolan, Steve Sutton, Charles Hayes and Tom Garrett.

• Malakoff — For mayor, John Shumate, Dennis Haws and Ricky Layne Baker Jr. have filed. Tim Trimble and Jeanette King are seeking re-election to one of two council seats.

• Seven Points — Five candidates are vying for three seats, Tommy Taylor, Michael Lowe, Bubba Powell, Wanda Lee Nichols and Tony Richards.

• Tool — Mike Black is seeking another term as mayor and has drawn Tamara Brickey as a challenger. Incumbents Leland Pitts and Nathan Reader have filed the two council seats. Dennis Condage has also filed for the council.

• Trinidad — Jason Tatom has filed for mayor along with Larry D. Estes. Five candidates have filed for the two council seats: Gary Brett Norman, Mary E. Johnston, Susan Latham, John Lewis and Linda Brock.

School board filings include:

• Athens — Rob Risko will be unopposed for another term in Place 3. Place 4 incumbent Ginger Kirk has drawn a challenge from Will Davies.

• Brownsboro — There are six candidates for the two seats now held by Bobby Teague and Dusty Wise. In addition to the incumbents, the candidates are Jeffrey Wood, Luke Rains, Brian Bersano and Danny Wilson.

• La Poynor — Place 6 trustee Keith Bristow has drawn opposition from Patrick DeBusk and Steven Simmons. Place 7 filers are Steve Handley and Stan McCurley.

• Malakoff — There are two seats available. Incumbents Rick Vieregge and Gary Woolverton have filed for re-election with Pat Smith challenging.