Local candidate filings begin for this May's elections
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

While the annexation debate rages in the city of El Campo and the school district faces millions in proposed high school renovations, the official start of the local political season gets under way next week.

Candidate filing for all May races starts Monday, Feb. 11, including the city of El Campo, El Campo school district, Wharton County Junior College, Isaacson Municipal Utility District and the Louise water board.

In El Campo, annexations approved Dec. 11 continue to be the major point of debate along with an estimated $1 million renovation to the El Campo Civic Center.

This May city voters will be asked to decide on their three at-large representatives in the first ballot which will include those in annexed areas.

Currently Mayor Phillip Spenrath and Mayor Pro Tem Kenneth Martin are the at-large representatives. There is also a vacant at-large chair previously occupied by Kyle Smith.

In El Campo, the top three vote-getters of all at-large candidates earn the posts. Historically, the mayor and mayor pro tem are selected from these three posts.

In preparation for this vote, the city is working with the Department of Justice to include newly annexed residents of the Sandy Corner area - an estimated 60 to 65 homes - in balloting.

The area will likely be added to what's popularly known as the Town & Country District - Seat 4 currently held by Councilman Ed Erwin, and they will cast their first municipal ballots helping decide who will be the city's three at-large representative posts.

Those wanting to vote in the city's May election have until April 10 to register.

For the May 2007 election, a district election year, the city had 8,143 eligible voters, according to the county elections administration office.

Of those, only 830 voters cast ballots despite a proposed senior citizen tax freeze also on the ticket.

In the last at-large election, Mayor Spenrath collected 770 votes to win his spot on Council while Martin garnered 529 and Smith 465.

El Campo ISD Last year El Campo ISD voters ousted one incumbent, but returned a former board member to a vacant post.

Total votes cast in the school board election were 2,340 out of a total of 10,404 registered voters within the El Campo school boundaries

For this election cycle positions held by Trustees Melissa Erwin and Tommy Turner will be up for a vote.

In ECISD, the focus of debates has turned to high school renovations. The last election topic was the new middle school, but classes will be conducted starting Monday morning.

Wharton County Junior College

Three positions are up for election this year. They are Position 3 held by Georgia Krenek of Wharton, Position 4 held by Phil Stephenson of Wharton and Position 8 held by Oliver Kunkel Jr. of Needville.

West Wharton County

Hospital District

In the West Wharton County Hospital District, the terms of incumbents Michael Appling, Stephen Cooper, Kristi David, Chip Jenkins, Richard Kerzee and Billy Rioux are up for election.

The hospital district opened its filing period early.

District clerk Irma Rocha reports all incumbents with the exception of Rioux have already announced their intention to seek another term.

The 11-member board rarely draws enough candidates to hold an election.

Water Districts In the Isaacson Municipal Utility District, seats currently held by Floyd Fisher, Floyd Shimek and Joe Juroska Jr. are up for contention.

The district serves about 180 residences on El Campo's northeast side.

In the Louise water district, positions held by A.E. Thomas and Paul Blumrick are set to expire.

Please look to future editions of the Leader-News for information on who local candidates for office will be and where they stand on the issues.