Candidates toss names in the hat
The deadline for a place on the May 4 uniform election ballot came last Friday, and several key races are taking shape in cities across the county.
In what will perhaps be the most significant change in nearly two decades is the office of Liberty Mayor, following Carl Pickett’s recent announcement that he would not seek reelection.
Now, voters will either give the nod to Liberty City Councilman John Hebert Jr or Rudy Cole to lead the city going forward.
On the City Council side, Liberty will elect three at-large members, with two of the three current incumbents asking voters for a second term, while Chipper Smith will not seek another term.
Those incumbents are Tommy Brents and Ed Seymour, and they are joined on the ballot by Ross Ward, Matt Harris, Bill Griffin and Greg Sattler. Voters will be able to select up to three candidates on the ballot.
On the other side of the Trinity, voters in Dayton will have three races on the ballot, with only two being contested. Position 3 Councilman John Headrick drew no challenger in his race for reelection.
In the Position 1 race held by Sherial Lawson, she won a race to fill the unexpired term of the late Dwight Pruitt last year. Lawson has drawn a challenger in Harry Barnes.
Position 2 will see a four-way logjam, with incumbent Janette Frick facing challenges from Sarah Vickery, Troy Barrett and former Councilman Alvin Burress.
On the county’s north end, Cleveland will see two new members join the council, as Position 3 Councilman Eddie Lowery and Position 5 Councilman will not seek another term.
In the race for Position 3, Brent McWaters will have no challenger, and his election is all but a formality. The race for Position 5 will be between Rachel Hall and Sophia Johnson.
Position 4 Councilwoman Desiree David will not face any opposition in her bid for a second term.
Plum Grove will have a pair of races, as former councilman Froy Ortiz will challenge incumbent Rodney Walker in the race for Position 2.
Walker’s wife, LeeAnn Penton-Walker, who filled an unexpired seat several months ago, will seek a full term in Position 4, but former longtime councilmember Diane Chunn will challenge her.
Mayor Mary Arrendell is also seeking re-election but faces no opponent.
In Daisetta, a contest for Mayor will feature incumbent Mayor Eric K. Thaxton and Chancie Bailey. There are no contested races for City Council.
Hardin and Devers will have no contested races on the ballot.
The Vindicator could not obtain any information in Ames and will provide that information when it becomes available.