LEADER-NEWS VOTERS' GUIDE MAY ELECTIONS
Seven seeking three City Council posts

HENRY DORNAK JR.

Henry Dornak Jr. is a former City Council member. The 70-year-old is self employed. Married to Jeanette Dornak for the last 49 years, the couple own and operate Cupid's Corner. They have three sons and one daughter.

Dornak has lived in Wharton County for the last 55 years. He has a bachelor degrees in aerospace and naval architecture received in 1966 and has served in the Coast Guard.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, SNAME and ADPA and served one term 1999-2000 on City Council.

Otha Edison Jr. is a pastor, caterer and substitute teacher. The 48-year-old is a lifetime El Campo resident married to Jessie Edison, who works at the Jake Payne Training Center. The couple have two children - Christie and Domannick Edison. Edison is a member of the Ministers Association, Crime Stoppers, Life Advocates and the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department. He is a previous candidate for the El Campo school board and City Council.

Kenneth G. Martin is an incumbent City Council member. The 53-year-old has been on Council a total of 14 years. He was mayor for six of those years. An El Campo High School graduate, Martin earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering technology from Texas A&M University in 1977. He has two children and is president of Martin Electric Company. He is past vice president of the El Campo Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club as well as past Master of the local Masonic Lodge. Martin is also a past board member of the Jaycees and a member of the Elks Lodge, and belongs to several professional organizations.

OTHA EDISON JR.

Jimmy Roppolo is the general manager of Farmers Co-op of El Campo and has lived in Wharton County for the last 32 years.

A 1970 graduate of Texas A&M University, the 61-year-old earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and was in the Corps of Cadets. His wife, Sandie, is a Realtor. Roppolo's children are Matthew, 30, a graduate of North Texas State University; and Blair Pfardrescher, 22, a graduate of Texas A&M.

Roppolo is involved in the Texas A&M College of Agricultural Development Council, El Campo Chamber of Commerce, is on the board of Texas Cotton Ginners Association, South Texas Cotton & Grain, Texas Cotton Ginners Trust Board and Texas Ag Cooperative Council; is a past director of the Texas Grain and Feed Association, is a past ginner delegate to the National Cotton Council, is on the advisory board for Cotton Engineering and Mechanization chair at Texas A&M, member of the Twelfth Man Foundation, past board member of the Cooperative Finance Association, member of Texas Association of Realtors, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Angus Association, American Angus Association and the American Brahman Breeders Association, and he's a member of St. Philip Catholic Church.

KENNETH MARTIN

Tim Ryan is an owner of Ryan Services. He and his wife Kimberly Hays Ryan own Muldoon's Saloon. The couple have one daughter - Rachael, 21, who is attending Texas A&M University. He is a member of the Elks Lodge and is a native of El Campo.

Richard Young is the executive vice president Greenleaf Nursery Company where he has worked for 29 1/2 years. Married to Beth, a homemaker and community volunteer, the couple have two children - Karalisa, 21, a junior at the University of Texas; and Kaylyn, 18, a senior at El Campo High School.

JIMMY ROPPOLO

Young is a member of the Rotary Club, Experimental Aircraft Association, and is a member and deacon of First Baptist Church where he chairs the Finance Committee and co-chairs the Properties Committee.

He has lived in Wharton County 26 years and has a bachelor's degree in ornamental horticulture from Oklahoma State University.

Phillip Spenrath is an incumbent City Council member and mayor. He has been varsity basketball coach and a government/geography teacher at El Campo High School for the past nine years and has 17 years experience as a teacher/ coach. Spenrath and wife Chandra were married in 1995 and have five sons - Rhett, 10; Reed, 8; Reagan, 6; Rhenner, 4, and Ridge, 18 months. He has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He attended the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich., passed the bar exam, and is licensed to practice law in Michigan and Texas. An active member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators and Texas High School Coaches Association, he also served as past regional coordinator for the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He is also a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, where he currently leads an adult Bible study class and coordinates Children's Church. He's involved with the El Campo Little League baseball and the Boys & Girls Club basketball programs.

TIM RYAN RICHARD YOUNG PHILIP SPENRATH