CONTESTED RACES ABOUND IN REGIONAL CITY, COUNTY ELECTIONS

  

Local governments across the region could see a shake-up in November, as the ballots of area cities and counties are packed with contested races.

Voters in Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, and Waller Counties have plenty of choices in the general election.

In Austin County, voters will choose between write-in candidates Ronnie Griffin, Tobey Baggerly and Robert Campbell for Precinct Three Constable.  In Sealy, they will vote on the mayor’s race between Carolyn Bilski and Nick Tirey, after previous mayor Janice Whitehead resigned.

Voters in Brazos County will have three candidates in the Sheriff’s race filling the position of outgoing Sheriff Chris Kirk: Republican Wayne Dicky, Democrat Patrick Logan, and Libertarian Clyde Garland.  They will also decide on the race to fill the unexpired term of Precinct Two Commissioner, formerly held by Sammy Catalena before his passing in May.  Republican Russ Ford and Democrat Jane Sherman are vying for the position.  In addition, the position of retiring county attorney Rod Anderson will be filled by either Republican Earl Gray or Democrat Freddie Medina.  On the Bryan City Council, both of the incumbents for the single member district three and four positions—Greg Owens and Mike Southerland, respectively—are stepping down after serving for two terms.  Position three will be filled by either Bobby Gutierrez or Jonna Schreiber, while Flynn Adcock or Doris Machinski will fill position four.  On the College Station City Council, several positions are up for election, including the place four position vacated by Elianor Vessali, who resigned her seat in order to campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Congressional District 17 seat.  That position is sought by Elizabeth Cunha and Joe Guerra Jr.  Races for place one will feature incumbent Bob Brick and challenger Jason Cornelius, while place three will have incumbent Linda Harvell facing Dell Seiter.  Place five will pit incumbent John Nichols against challengers Craig Regan and Brian Alg.

In Burleson County, voters in Caldwell will choose between incumbent Norris McManus and challenger Mike Valigura for the position of mayor.  On the city council, incumbents Jim Wilde and Jonnie Vic Barnett are being challenged by Janice Easter, Jason Rhodes, and Jesse Enrique Jr. for two seats on the council.  Meanwhile, voters in Somerville will choose between several candidates for three seats on the city council: Deonna Moses, who was recently appointed to fill the position vacated by Shelly Gotte; incumbent Jeff Schoppe; and challengers Lucinda Murphy, Kay Cooper Moravec, Barbara Debolt, Erik Kline, Fred Elliott, Amanda Flencher, and Carol Freeman.

Moving to Fayette County, voters in Round Top will decide between incumbent Barry Bone and challenger Mark Monroe Massey for mayor.  Flatonia will also feature a mayor’s race between incumbent Bryan Milson and challenger James Longmire.  There also two seats on the Flatonia City Council being sought by incumbent Mark Eversole and Donna Cockrell, along with Allen Kocian and Pamela Stolarski.  Voters will also decide upon the incorporation of the community of Ellinger.  If passed, Matt Mikulenka will serve as mayor, and Joseph Lamer and Kenneth Stojanik will serve as commissioners.

Voters in Grimes County will choose a candidate to fulfill the unexpired term of former county treasurer Janice Trant, who passed away earlier this year.  Voters will choose between Republican Jim-Bob Trant—who was appointed in August to fill the position—and Democrat Tara Gamble.  Navasota has a pair of contested races for city council.  For position one, incumbent B.F. “Bernie” Gessner Jr. is facing Randy Peters, while position two will pit incumbent Geoff Horn against Patti Pederson.

In Lee County, races include Precinct One Commissioner featuring Democratic incumbent Maurice Pitts Jr. against Republican challenger Mark Matthijetz.  In Giddings, voters will decide on the mayor’s race between incumbent John Dowell and challenger Ramzi Awad.

Waller County will feature a contested Sheriff’s race between Republican Troy Guidry and Democrat Cedric D. Watson, the winner of which will fill the position formerly held by R. Glenn Smith, who passed away in August after suffering a heart attack.  Voters in Waller County will also decide on the Precinct One Commissioner’s race between Republican incumbent John Allen Amsler and Democrat Mildred Jefferson, as well as the Precinct Three Commissioner’s race between Republican incumbent Jeron Barnett and Democrat Kendric Jones.  They will also choose between Democratic incumbent Herschel Smith and Republican challenger Marvin Hood for Precinct Three Constable.  Hempstead and Prairie View both have several contested races for mayor and city council.  In Hempstead, current mayor Michael Wolfe, Sr. will face off against Dave Shelburne.  Position One Councilmember will pit incumbent Patricia Chernosky against Erica Gillum, Position Two will feature incumbent Katherine Ragston and challenger Sherion Grant, and Position Four will have incumbent Fred Thomas, III versus Raul Villareal.  In Prairie View, James Larry, Brian Rowland, and Johnie Walker will seek the position held by Mayor David Allen, who is not running for re-election.  The place three council position will have Paulette Matthews-Barnett facing Nathan Alexander III seeking to fill the unexpired term of Kendric Jones.  In place four, incumbent Wendy Williams will be challenged by Waymond Lydell Perry, while James Williams will challenge place five incumbent Xante’ Isaiah Wallace.

Friday is the last day of early voting, and Election Day is November 3^rd.