Contested races develop in area city council elections

By CHAD BLACKSHEAR
Herald-Banner Staff

March 11, 2009 01:51 am

— The deadline has passed for area city council candidates to file for the May 9 election, and the majority of the races are contested.
However, write-in candidates have until March 16 to file.
Voters in Commerce will choose council members to represent Place 1 and Place 3. Place 1 incumbent Tony Henry will face challenger Tommy Hall. Place 3 incumbent Richard Hill will face David Hitt and Deryck Gorman.
Three candidates are vying to become the next mayor of Caddo Mills. Council member Amy Baker, Dwayne Pattison and Shirley Thomason are seeking to succeed Mayor Buel Bentley.
Four candidates are competing for two positions on the Caddo Mills City Council. Candidates are Brook Howard, Marsha Nelson, Joel Richardson and Vic Summers.
Lone Oak voters will choose four council members from a pool of seven candidates. Place 2 incumbent Neil Dent will face challenger Misty Lutz. Place 1 candidates are David Sumrall and Michael Barrow. Mona Collins and Shane Stovall are competing for the Place 3 position. Gordon Galloway is unopposed for the Place 5 position.
Voters in Leonard will choose three council members from the four candidates that have filed. Incumbents Glenn Murphy and Steven Bolin are seeking re-election, while Darrell Grintz and Larry Thompson are seeking to get on the council.
Seven candidates have filed for three positions on the East Tawakoni City Council. Place 1 candidates are Pamela Whitfield, April Rodger and Johnnie La Prade. Walt Pollard and Mark Himelright are competing for the Place 2 position, while Bobbie Harman and Pam Patterson are vying for the Place 4 position.
Farmersville voters will decide one contested race. Place 5 incumbent Lee Warren will face Fred Langford. Place 1 and Place 3 incumbents Shirley Horton and Billy Long are unopposed.
Early voting is scheduled between April 27 and May 5.