Most candidates file to stay in office for another term
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

At the end of the first week of local candidate filing, there's at least one person running for all but two open positions and only one contested race so far.

Candidate filing for the city of El Campo, El Campo school district, Wharton County Junior College, Isaacson Municipal Utility District and the Louise water board got under way Monday.

So far, El Campo ISD has the only contested race while Wharton County Junior College and the West Wharton County Hospital District still have one open slot each.

El Campo ISD - For this election cycle, positions held by trustees Melissa Erwin (Position 7) and Tommy Turner (Position 6) are up for a vote.

Retired high school German teacher and former El Campo Mayor Paul Soechting has filed for the Position 6 seat, as has Turner, the incumbent.

For the Position 7 seat, Erwin is currently unopposed in her re-election bid.

City of El Campo - 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.

Incumbents Spenrath and Martin have filed along with El Campo volunteer firefighter Otha Edison.

Wharton County Junior College - Three positions are up for election this year: Position 3, held by Georgia Krenek of Wharton; Position 4, held by Phil Stephenson of Wharton; and Position 8, held by Oliver W. Kunkel Jr. of Needville.

Stephenson and Kunkel are the only filers so far.

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.

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

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

All three incumbents have filed for reelection so far.

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

Manager Eula Mae Crowell reports both incumbents have filed for an additional term.