Early voting set for April 19-27

Several entities within Cherokee County will hold elections for municipal and school board seats on May 1, along with early voting April 19-27.

Among the contested races are those for:
CITY OF RUSK – The District 1 seat has attracted candidates Ben Mims and Kendall Pharis, who are seeking to succeed Councilman Ben Middlebrooks, who has filed for the mayor’s seat. Because the mayoral race and the race for the District 2 seat are uncontested – incumbent Councilman Walter Session has filed candidacy for the District 2 seat – the city can cancel the uncontested races, per state government code.

Early voting for the District 1 race will be held daily, April 19-23, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26-27 at the City of Rusk municipal building, 205 S. Main St.

On May 1, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Rusk ISD’s administration building, 203 E. 7th St.

JACKSONVILLE ISD – The local school board has three seats up for election, each for a three-year term. Of these, only the Place 5 seat is contested, drawing incumbent Blake Stephens and challenger Loretta Doty as candidates.

The polling site for this year’s school board election is at Jacksonville City Hall, 315 S. Ragsdale St. Early voting is slated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, while on May 1, polling hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

BULLARD ISD – Two seats on the Bullard ISD board are up for grabs: Place 4 candidates are incumbent Stephanie Louper and challenger Brent Bishop, while Place 5 incumbent Jason Campbell is running uncontested.

The polling site for both early voting and on Election Day is at Bullard Southern Baptist Church, 716 N. Houston St. Early voting is slated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, April 19-23, as well as from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26-27. On May 1, the poll is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

NEW SUMMERFIELD ISD – Four candidates have filed for two 3-year terms on the local schoolboard: Scott Bragg, Jennifer Cole, Loleta Davis and Brian J. Reuter. Voters can cast ballots during the early voting period at the district central office, 13307 Texas Highway 110 South. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays between April 19 and April 27. On Election Day, May 1, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the NSISD Media Center, also at 13307 Highway 110 South.

TROUP ISD – Only one of two seats on the Troup school board that are up for election is a contested race, with the Place 4 race drawing incumbent candidate Fielding Winchester and Homer Dickey..

Several polling sites have been set for TISD voters for early voting and on election day

Early voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19-23, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26-27 at the following sites:

• Cameron-J. Jarvis Troup Municipal Library, 102 S. Georgia St., Troup

• The HUB – Smith County Elections Office, 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler

• Chapel Hill ISD Admin Building, 11134 CR 2249, Tyler

• Bullard Southern Baptist Church, 716 N. Houston St., Bullard

• Lillie Russell Lindale Library, 200 E. Hubbard St., Lindale

On May 1, polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following sites:

• Cameron-J. Jarvis Troup Municipal Library, 102 S. Georgia St. in Troup

• The HUB – Smith County Elections Office, 304 E. Ferguson St. in Tyler

• Dayspring United Methodist Church, 301 W. Cumberland, Tyler

• Soma Church, 3700 Old Bullard Rd., Tyler

• Bell Elementary School, 1409 Hankerson St., Tyler

• Clarkston Elementary School, 2915 Williamsburg Dr., Tyler

• TJ Austin Elementary School, 1105 W. Franklin, Tyler

• Jones/Boshears Elementary, 3450 Chandler Hwy., Tyler

• St. Louis Baptist Church, 4000 Frankston Hwy., Tler

• Glass Recreation Center, 501 W. 32nd St., Tyler

• Chapel Hill Fire Department, 13801 CR 220, Tyler

• St. Violet Baptist, 14129 FM 2767, Tyler

• Bullard Southern Baptist, 716 N. Houston St., Bullard

• Lillie Russell Lindale Library, 200 E. Hubbard St., Lindale

• Hideaway Member Services Building, 101 Hideaway Lake Central, Hideaway

Entities who have uncontested races that have the option of canceling those elections are: Wells ISD (cancelled) and the cities of Alto, Bullard, of Gallatin, Jacksonville, New Summerfield, Troup and Wells.