Rockwall's incumbents and mayor file for re-election

City races throughout county see filings begin

Leslie Gibson

On the heels of a major annexation vote on annexation, and upon the completion of a city-constructed major thoroughfare, the Rockwall mayor and three city council incumbents have already filed for the May city elections.

Mayor Bill Cecil has filed to re-run for that position.

Those currently in Places 1, 3 and 5 have also filed to run.

They are: David Sweet in Place 1; Glen Farris in Place 3; and Matt Scott in Place 5.

Filing continues for the council seats and mayor position through March 9.

Packets may be picked up and returned to Rockwall City Hall, city secretary’s office, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. City Hall is located at 385 South Goliad St. or can be downloaded from the City of Rockwall’s Web site.

Candidates must be 21 years old or older at the time of election; be a qualified voter; have resided within the corporate city limits or recently annexed territory for at least 12 months prior to the filing deadline (March 9); shall not be in arrears of tax or other liability payments to the city; and, no candidate may file in a single election for more than one office or position as provided by this charter. In addition, no employee of the City shall continue in such position after filing for an elective office provided for in this charter.



Royse City has two file for mayor



As of Wednesday, two person had filed for mayor of Royse City: former city administrator Connie Goodwin and Jerrell Baley.

As in all municipalities of Rockwall County, filing opened on Feb. 9 to run through March 9, for the May 2009 city elections.

Positions open in Royse City are: mayor, two-year term from 2009-2011; and three council places: Place 1, 3 and 5, each a two-year term from 2009-2011.

Those places are currently held by Jim Mellody as mayor, Matt Benedetto in Place 1, Don Becknell in Place 3, and Mary Johnson, Place 5.

Information packets may be picked up at Royse City City Hall, at 305 North Arch Street, Royse City, 75189, during regular business hours. The phone number is 972-636-2250.



Heath incumbents file for council places



By Wednesday, with filing having started on Monday, all three incumbents had filed for the Heath City Council places up for election.

Places up for May election are: Place 1, held by Bob Hille; Place 2, held by Karen Lewis; and Place 3, held by Steve McKimmey.

Filing for the council election runs through March 9. Application packets may be picked up at Heath City Hall, 200 Laurence Drive, Heath, 75032, bewteen 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.



McLendon-Chisholm council name appointees; calls May civic election



One of the citizens who spoke at the Jan. 20 McLendon-Chisholm Town Hall meeting on the issue of establishing an ad valorem tax in the city, said at that time he would like to volunteer for civic service.

Chris Nixon, who spoke at the Town Hall, was named in the regular McLendon-Chisholm council meeting Tuesday night as an alternate to the Planning and Zoning Commission. He replaces Mark Coleman. Chairman Troy Reich, and members Karla Clark and Jay Webb were reappointed.

Board of Adjustment members were reappointed: Brian Sweet, Barry Luff, and Cyndi Lorton.

Filing for city council places up in the May election cycle opened on Monday, but as of Wednesday no one had filed to run.

Seats open for election are Place 1, held by Beverly Stibbens; Place 3, held by James Parnell; and Place 5, held by Jerry Moss.

Filing packets may be picked up weekdays through March 9 at City Hall, which is open from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each Friday. McLendon Chisholm City Hall, is located at 1248 S. State Hwy. 205, Rockwall 75032.



Fate city election includes new council seat



Filing for the May election of council seats in the City of Fate began Feb. 9, and will continue through March 9.

Four council seats are open, including two held currently by recent appointees.

An appointee fills the new seat created by the November adoption of the home rule charter. Per the charter, in the closest election cycle after charter adoption, voters must elect someone to the new seat. That cycle is May 2009.

Another appointee is finishing the unexpired term of Bill Broderick, who was elected mayor in November. That term ends May 2009.

Those appointees, should they wish to remain on council, must file and run. The two appointees were named in January, from four applicants.

Council unanimously approved place numbers for the six seats in the regular meeting Feb. 2.

Per the charter, even-numbered places come up for election in even-numbered years, and odd-numbered places in odd-numbered years. It is only because Place 6 is newly created, and must be filled by the electorate at the first possible opportunity, that Place 6 is being voted upon in an odd-numbered year.

The May regular elections will be for Place 1, currently held by Forest Murley; Place 3, currently held by Rodney Smith; and Place 5, currently held by appointee Dawn Payne, to fill the unexpired term of Broderick, which was named as Place 5.

A special election is being called for the newly created seat, Place 6, currently held by appointee K.C. Erwin.

The place numbering was based somewhat on tenure, said city secretary Eddie Sturgal.

The charter explains the procedures for the appointee in the new seat, and the election, but some conflicting information was brought out in the Feb. 2 meeting about the process.

Former mayor David Hill noted in public comment, that the charter required that the new seat’s appointee serve only until the next available election. He noted that the published agenda item referred only ordering the election for three council places: 1, 3, and 5, and left off the election for Place 6. He handed copies of the city charter to each council member.

When the agenda item came up, Sheri Garber, councilwoman, asked, “So we do not have to hold a special election for Place 6?”

Forest Murley said he interpreted the charter as requiring the Place 6 election, and made a motion to table the agenda item. Steve Skipworth seconded, and the vote was unanimous. In the meantime, as discussion continued on when to schedule a special meeting on the issue, recognizing that a legal timeline was in place, former city secretary Christy Schell, who was in the audience, put in a phone call to the city attorney’s office, which then clarified that the special election would be needed.

“Evidently there’s been a change of heart,” said Vicki Mikel, city manager. “We can pass this tonight with a correction.” And the council did.

Information packets may be picked up at Fate City Hall in the city secretary’s office during regular business hours, through March 9. The city hall phone number is 972-771-4601.

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