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With federal, state and county elections making up most of the headlines, several contested municipal races are also slated for cities in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties on Election Day, Saturday, May 4.
Candidates were required to file for offices before Feb. 16; write-in candidates were required to file by Feb. 20.
Here is a preview of the contested municipal races:
• BRIDGE CITY — Mayor David Rutledge is challenged by Carl Harbert, while Place 4 Councilmember Patty Collins and Place 6 Councilmember Shelby Dixon are unopposed. Place 2 Councilmember Mike Reed decided not to run for re-election and retired BCISD administrator Gina Mannino applied for the post unopposed.
• KOUNTZE — Place 2 Alderwoman Andrea Cutwright is challenged by Connie Winger, while Mayor Fred Williams and Place 1 Alderman Jack Darden are unopposed.
• SILSBEE — Newcomer Tina Young-Holman will challenge incumbent Adelaide Balaban for At-Large Place 1, while Roy Graves (District A) and William Bass (District B) are unopposed. Caleb J. Buse, a college student, filed to run against Balaban, but was not eligible to run for council because he registered to vote at Lamar University.
• SOUR LAKE — Incumbent Mayor Bruce Robinson has two opponents in the May 4 election. Councilmembers Connie Murphy and Kevin Cudd are seeking to unseat the longtime Mayor. Running unopposed for the two at-large council positions are Ryan Elmore and Jody L. Butler. According to City Secretary Debbie Morgan, Murphy’s seat was up but she decided to run for mayor and Cudd has one year left on his council term. Cudd will not give up his council seat unless he wins the mayor’s race. If Cudd wins, the mayor will have to appoint someone to fill his vacancy for one year.
A host of canceled elections were called for the following cities:
• CHINA — Councilmembers Rachel Shauberger (At Large 1), Laura Zaro (At-Large 2) and Jesslyn Durand (District C) are unopposed, along with Phillip Kibodeaux, who is unopposed to fill the remaining term for the District A post.
• LUMBERTON — Mayor Don Surratt and Councilmembers Joey Schoen (Position 2) and Kimberly Cline (Position 4) are unopposed.
• NEDERLAND — Councilmembers Sylvia Root (Ward 2) and David Guillot (Ward 4), along with Mayor Don Albanese are unopposed.
• ORANGE — Mayor Larry Spears will serve another term and Matt Chandler will take over David Bailey’s seat after he decided not to seek re-election.
• PINEHURST — Mayor Sarah McClendon and Councilmembers Cynthia Adams, Greg Willis and Joey Vance are unopposed.
• VIDOR — Nicole McGowan (Ward 2) and Michael Thompson (Ward 3) are unopposed. Ward 5 Councilmember Gary Herrera will not seek re-election and newcomer Mikayla Bourque will fill his seat.
• WEST ORANGE — Councilmembers Mike Shugart, Lanie Brown and Jay Odom are unopposed; no election.
The last day to register to vote in the May 4 election is Thursday, April 4. Early voting is Monday, April 22, through Tuesday, April 30. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Tuesday, April 23, and mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on the day of the election.