More names added to
ballot with Friday filings
Final candidate tallies for May 2 city and school board elections saw a few more names make it to the ballot by the filing deadline Friday.
According to the official paperwork, 28 candidates are seeking political office in area races.
The last day to register to vote is April 2; early voting runs April 20-28; and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Here is a recap of the candidates:
COUPLAND ISD
While the Coupland Independent School District holds its school board elections in November, the dais is still missing a trustee.
Royce Hatch recently left his board position.
Marcia Buffington replaced former trustee Andrew Gonzalez, who stepped down due to a conflict of interest.
GRANGER
There are three atlarge positions on the Granger City Council. The incumbents are Lori Gick, Ron Marx and Mark Matoska, and Denise Stefek is a candidate.
Council members are elected for two years.
File photo The Granger Independent School District seats held by board President Daryl Stefek and trustees Jason Huf and Josh Richter are on the ballot. Huf and Stefek will face challenges from Jen David, Ricky Luna, Rosangel Rodriguez and David Tucker. Richter chose not to seek reelection.
HUTTO
Two slots on the Hutto City Council will have contested races. Five candidates are vying for the Place 1 slot, while Place 4 is a two-person race.
Suzana Beni, Luiz Dunham, Sarosh Jafri, Brandy McCool and Jerrell W. Reynolds will face off for Place 1.
Brandon DeLeon and Corina Zepeda will vie for Place 4.
Place 1 is held by interim Councilman Charles Warner and Peter Gordon is the Place 4 council member.
Warner was appointed Jan. 8 to fill the remaining term of Councilman Brian Thompson, who stepped down in December. Warner said he is not running in the May 2 contest.
Gordon has hit term limits and cannot seek office.
Terms are for three years.
HUTTO ISD
The Hutto Independent School District has two atlarge school board seats on the ballot May 2. The spots are held by Vice President Felix Chavez and trustee Shara Turner.
Chavez is running again, but Turner is not seeking reelection.
April Adams, Lynn Green, Taylor Lopez and Sam Martinez are running for trustee spots as well. School board members serve staggered three-year terms.
TAYLOR
In a change from previous election cycles, the mayor’s seat will be decided by the electorate and not by City Council members.
An amendment to the city charter in May 2024 means the former at-large seat is transitioning to the mayoral position.
Local businessman and Taylor native Jim Buzan announced his candidacy for the city’s top spot after Dwayne Ariola decided not to seek reelection.
Also running for mayor are Taylor Stubbs and Sandra O. Wolff.
Council terms are three years.
TAYLOR ISD
The Taylor Independent School District has two positions up for grabs.
The Place 1 slot held by board Vice President Shorty Mitchell and the atlarge seat occupied by Jim Buzan are open. Mitchell will seek reelection, while Rachael Westerman has filed for Buzan’s at-large spot.
Buzan, meanwhile, officially kicked off a campaign Jan. 14 to run for Taylor mayor.
THRALL ISD
Thrall Independent School District board President Bryan Holubec has officially announced he is running again. Wesley Grisham’s seat is also on the ballot this spring, but he decided not to run for reelection.
Ashley Harper, Joshua Seagroves and Jason Seaton each filed for trustee positions.
