Six now seek Council positions
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Potential candidates have only one more full day to file in city of El Campo, El Campo school district, Wharton County Junior College, Isaacson Municipal Utility District and the Louise water board races.

Monday, May 10 is the last day to formalize intentions to run for any of those positions.

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

The El Campo school district and IMUD 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 Henry Dornak Jr., who previously served on the Council, El Campo volunteer firefighter and pastor Otha Edison, 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.

The third at-large seat was vacated recently by the resignation of Kyle Smith after a new job forced his resignation.

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.

No one new filed as of Friday morning for spots on the El Campo ISD board.

Posts held by trustees Melissa Erwin (Position 7) and Tommy Turner (Position 6) are up for a vote and both are 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. Soechting owns a local construction company.

In the Isaacson Municipal Utility District, two challenges were issued to the three incumbents seeking to return to the board, but one was withdrawn.

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 and Brenda George, a nurse, on the May ballot. Frances Garner, a driver, withdrew from the race yesterday.

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, and all have filed for re-election.

Louise Water District - In the Louise water district, positions held by A.E. Thomas and Paul Blumrick are set to expire. Both have filed for an additional term.