Contested races highlight city elections

Voters will be deciding the future of several cities across the county this coming May, with elections in Liberty and Dayton highlighting the ballot.

Liberty will see a five- person race for three at- large council seats with incumbents Libby Simonson and Debbie Dugger, who is finishing the unexpired term of John Hebert, Jr., after he moved to the role of mayor last year. Out is incumbent Dennis Beasley, who did not file to run for another term at the dais.

Bruce Bell, Nick Dennis and Trent LaFour are joining the race. Voters will have the opportunity to select up to three candidates to fill the open seats.

Across the river will be a pair of contests with both incumbents being challenged by former council members.

In the race for Position 4, first-term council member Tonya Smikal will be challenged by Don McDaniel, who served one term previously.

The race for Position 5 will feature Valorie Barton, currently serving her first term, against former councilman Alvin Burress.

In Cleveland, voters appear content with the city’s current direction after the filing deadline came and went with no challengers for the incumbents on this year’s ballot.

Mayor Danny Lee, along with Position 1 Councilman Julius Buckley and Position 2 Councilman Roscoe Warrick, Jr., will all be elected to a second term.

There will be several charter amendments on the upcoming ballot for Cleveland voters to make decisions on. More information on those items will be provided in a future edition. Several smaller municipalities will also have elections on the ballot, with contested races in Ames and Daisetta.

Ames will see incumbent Mayor Barbara Domain serve another term with no opposition, along with Position 3 Councilman Eddie White. On the other hand, Position 5 Council Member Audrey Harrison’s seat will be open, and Rubin Williams and Tiffany Burgis have both filed for that open spot.

In Daisetta, there will be one contested race on the ballot, as Position 2 Councilman Ryan Taylor will face a challenge from Joseph Ballard. Incumbent Kelsey Norris will face no opponent for Position 4.

Plum Grove will see a pair of new council members, but they will face no opposition. Current members Danielle Enloe and Deborah Bell have decided not to seek reelection. Stepping up to fill those spots are Robert Sanchez for Position 1, and in the Position 2 seat, Sarah Woodberry will not have an opponent.

There will be no changes in the cities of Hardin, Kenefick and Devers, as none of the incumbents will face opposition.

Election day is Saturday, May 3, and early voting will begin on Monday, April 21. The last day to register to vote in the upcoming election is Thursday, April 3. For more information on elections, visit votelibertycounty.com.

The Vindicator will have information on local school district elections in next week’s edition.