After voting in the primary elections in March, a portion of Southeast Texas voters will return to the polls to decide a host of municipal, school board and other elections set for Saturday, May 2.
Early voting begins Monday, April 20, and ends Tuesday, April 28. Check with the county election office for polling places and other early voting information.
The Republican and Democratic primary runoff election is Tuesday, May 26. The key race in the Republican runoff is between incumbent John Cornyn and Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate. The winners of the runoff elections will head to the general election in November.
Early voting in the runoff runs from May 18 to 22, and Monday, April 27, is the last day to register to vote.
Jefferson County
There are four contested races on the Port Arthur City Council. Incumbent Willie Bae Lewis faces Taylor Getwood and Artrell McCullar Sr. for his District 1 seat.
District 2 Councilmember Tiffany L. Hamilton-Everfield is not seeking reelection, so voters will decide between Hollan Hoffer and Cal Jones. Incumbent Doneane Beckcom faces Warren Pena and Charlie Lewis Jr. for the District 3 post, while Chuck Vincent, Kaala Jacobs and Reado Johnson are running for the District 4 seat held by Harold Doucet Sr., who is not seeking reelection.
In Nederland, Curtis Stratton is running unopposed for the Ward 1 City Council seat. Bret Duplant, who currently holds the seat, is not seeking reelection. Incumbent Randy Sonnier faces challenger Keith Bass for the Ward 3 post.
In Port Neches, the Place 3 and Place 5 council seats, currently held by Paul Lemoine and Terry Schwertner, respectively, are up for election.
Aldermen hold office for three years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Orange County
In Orange County, there are seven municipal elections and two school board elections on the May 2 ballot.
For the Orange City Council, incumbent Paul Burch faces Bob Manning for the at-large Place 6 seat, and incumbent Terrie Turner Salter is unopposed for her District 3 post.
In Pinehurst, voters will decide between incumbent Sarah L. McClendon and Lee Hayes for mayor, while incumbent Greg “Ace” Willis faces two challengers — Cynthia Adams and Courtnie Menard — for two alderman positions.
There are two council seats up for grabs in Vidor. Incumbent Michael Thompson faces Jacob Smith for the Ward 3 seat, while former council member Gary Herrera and Vicki Watson are running for the Ward 5 post after MiKayla Bourque did not seek reelection.
Incumbent Nicole McGowan is unopposed for her Ward 2 council seat. All seats are two-year terms.
In West Orange, incumbents Lanie Brown, Jay Odom and Mike Shugart Jr. are unopposed.
Also, city voters will cast ballots on four propositions dealing with street maintenance and terms for the mayor and aldermen.
Proposition A would renew a 1/4% local sales and use tax to provide revenue for maintenance and street repairs. The tax would expire on the fourth anniversary of the election unless reauthorized.
Proposition B would amend the city charter to change the terms of the mayor and aldermen from two years to four years.
Proposition C, if Proposition B is approved, would change how vacancies are filled, requiring a special election within 120 days. If the unexpired term has less than 12 months remaining, the City Council would appoint a replacement.
Proposition D, which also depends on Proposition B passing, would require the city to hold regular elections on the first Saturday in May or another date set by state law.
Hardin County
Sour Lake voters will decide among three candidates for two City Council seats. Former council member Connie Murphy faces incumbents Ryan Elmore and Brittany Stutes. Mayor Michael Hendrix is running unopposed.
In Kountze, incumbent Mayor Fred Williams is challenged by Alderman Glenn Matthews and former alderwoman Barbara Greer. Incumbent Jack Darden faces Symiah Powell for the Place 1 alderperson seat, while incumbent Connie Winger faces Tiffany McGray for the Place 2 post.
The city of Silsbee canceled its city election because no candidates filed to challenge the incumbents.
School elections
Nederland ISD voters will choose two at-large trustees from six candidates: incumbent Kay DeCuir, Linda Clavijo, A.J. Delage, Nathan Huckaby, Stacy Lewis, and Edgar Maddox. The top two vote-getters will serve three-year terms.
The Port Arthur ISD school board general election includes two at-large seats for candidates Carolyn J. Brown, Nathaniel Collins Jr., and incumbent Kenneth W. Lofton Sr.
The West Orange-Cove CISD election includes four candidates — Martizza Odom, Tommy Wilson, Joseph Angelle, and Donny Teate Jr. — with the top two finishers serving three-year terms.
In Orangefield ISD, voters will consider Proposition A for the issuance of $12.9 million in bonds for construction, equipment, renovation, expansion and improvement of the Paul Cormier Baseball and Softball Field and F.L. McClain Stadium.
In Hardin-Jefferson ISD, there is one contested trustee race, with incumbent Alex J. Stelly Jr. facing Jeremy Vanya for the Position 2 seat in a special election. Running unopposed are incumbents Jason Dickerson and Brent Walters for Positions 6 and 7, and newcomer Kelly Liezke for Position 4.
Other elections
In Jefferson County, there is a special election for State Senate District 4 between Democrat Ron C. Angeletti and Republican Brett W. Ligon.
Also, voters in Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 will vote for three directors. Candidates are Billy Watson, Jerme Wilson, Steven L. Arnold and Stephen Savant.
There are six candidates for three commissioner seats on the Sabine Pass Port Authority: incumbents Jerry Heid, Ricky Keltz and Robert Sexton, and challengers Christoal Picou, Linda Berg, and Samantha Souza.
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