Three races contested in May filings
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Just four more days are left for candidates to announce their intentions in city of El Campo, El Campo school district, Wharton County Junior College, Isaacson Municipal Utility District and the Louise water board races.

Most recently another challenge was issued in the city race with a total of six candidates now seeking three positions.

The IMUD and El Campo school district also have opposed races.

In the city of El Campo, six candidates are currently seeking the three at-large posts on Council.

Incumbents Mayor Phillip Spenrath and Mayor Pro Tem Kenneth Martin are facing challenges from Farmers Co-op of El Campo General Manager Jimmy Roppolo and Tim Ryan, a business owner suing the city and its Council in an effort to force recent annexations to a vote on the Citizens for a Responsible El Campo platform, as well as former Councilman Henry Dornak Jr. and El Campo volunteer firefighter and pastor Otha Edison.

The third at-large seat was vacated recently by the resignation of Kyle Smith.

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

In El Campo ISD, posts held by trustees Melissa Erwin (Position 7) and Tommy Turner (Position 6) are up for a vote and both are now contested.

For the Position 7 seat, salesman Clayton Ryan has issued a challenge to Erwin's re-election bid.

For Position 6, Turner's effort to claim another term is being challenged by retired high school German teacher and former El Campo Mayor Paul Soechting.

In the Isaacson Municipal Utility District, two challenges have been issued to the three incumbents seeking to return to the board.

Seats currently held by Floyd Fisher, Floyd Shimek and Joe Juroska Jr. are up for contention and all have said they want another term.

They will be facing Frances Garner, a driver, and Brenda George, a nurse, on the May ballot.

In the IMUD, the top three vote-getters win seats on the board.

Other filings are:

Wharton County Junior College - Three positions are up for election: 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.

All incumbents have now filed and are currently unopposed.

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 Anthony Cisneros are up for election.

Hospital District Clerk Irma Rocha reports all incumbents have filed.

Louise Water District - 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.

VOTERS FACING CHOICES

The city of El Campo currently has five candidates for three spots on City Council while El Campo ISD has two contested positions on the May ballot.

IMUD voters are looking at five candidates for three posts as well. The candidate filing period for local races continues through March 10.