Posted 11:51 pm Thursday, February 28, 2013
Send to Kindle
Last day to file for office in general election is Friday
By DAYNA WORCHEL AND EMILY GUEVARA
Staff Writers
Staff Writers
Friday is the last day to submit paperwork to run for public office in local general elections such as the city of Tyler, Tyler Independent School District and other East Texas entities.
In the city of Tyler, Sam Mezayek, of District 1, and Mark Whatley, of District 5 East, will be up for re-election in May.
John Nix, 33, a Lubbock native who has lived in Tyler since 2001, announced in January he will run for the District 6 seat vacated by Jason Wright.
Mezayek filed his paperwork to run again in his district on Feb. 12, Assistant City Manager Susan Guthrie said.
Ralph Caraway, who represents District 3, will not run again because of term limits, and Edward Don "Ed" Moore, 65, filed in January to run for that seat.
In Tyler ISD, three seats on the seven-member board will be up for election. They are District 1, District 3 and District 6.
Eleno Licea (District 1) and Michelle Carr (District 6) have announced they will not seek re-election. Both cited a desire to spend more time with family. Licea also said he needs to focus his time on his business, which is an insurance company.
Tyler native and businessman Wade Washmon filed to run for the District 1 position.
Washmon, 31, is vice president of B.W. Energy Consultants Inc., an oil and gas land services company started by his father.
Rev. Dr. Marty Dunbar has filed for the District 6 seat.
Dunbar, 40, is associate pastor at Marvin United Methodist Church, where he is preaching pastor for the Core Worship services, according to an emailed statement.
No one had filed to run for the District 3 position as of Wednesday morning. Long-time TISD Trustee Therelee Washington currently represents that district.
Across East Texas, contested races include: Athens ISD Place 5, Elkhart City Council Place 2, Frankston City Council Place 6, Frankston ISD Place 1 and Place 5, Fruitvale ISD School Board, Jacksonville Mayor, Mineola Mayor, Palestine Mayor, Winnsboro City Council and Winnsboro Mayor.
For Tyler City Council positions, the last day to file for District 1, 3, or 5 is Friday. However, the last day to file for a place on the special election ballot for District 6 is March 11, according to the city's website.
City council members serve two-year terms with a three-consecutive term limit, according to the city website. The position is unpaid.
All candidates for Tyler City Council must register with the City Clerk's Office, which is on the first floor of Tyler City Hall, 212 N. Bonner Ave. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To serve on the council, a person must be a qualified voter in the city, have lived in the district they want to represent for at least six months prior to the election, continue to live in the district during their term and not be indebted to city in regard to taxes or any other liabilities, according to the city website.
People interested in applying for the TISD board of trustees can do so in person from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Applications should be filed at the board secretary's office in the TISD Administration Building, 1319 Earl Campbell Parkway.
Trustees serve three-year terms and the position is unpaid. Candidates must be a qualified voter, must have lived in Texas for 12 months and must have lived in the district they want to represent for at least six months.
For more information, visit the school district's website at tylerisd.org and click on the School Board Elections link under the School Board tab.
