Election filing closes, with some cities expected to cancel elections

The race for our local municipalities elections has begun. Filing for a place on the ballot closed Feb. 14. Qualifying individuals could still file as a write-in candidate through Feb. 21. Those wishing to withdraw their candidacy so that their names would not appear on the ballot also had through Feb. 21 to do so.

Municipal elections in Texas are set for Saturday, May 3.

In Jacksonville, no election will be held within the city. Voters determined in 2022 that council members, including the mayor, should be elected to three-year terms. This led to a three-year election cycle in which the third year no election is held.

Residents in Jacksonville’s extra-territorial jurisdiction will be asked to head to the polls to determine if the city should create a municipal development district. The district would function much like the Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation, except within the city’s ETJ. The taxes collected from the ETJ would have to be used for projects in the same area.

For information regarding the municipal development district, see our related article “Residents will vote on municipal development district in May,” published Feb. 14, or visit the city’s website, jacksonvilletx.org and click the link on the “Special Election” bar at the top of the page.

In Bullard, New Summerfield and Rusk only the incumbents filed as candidates. Without opposition, these cities are expected to cancel their respective orders of election.

Four individuals have filed for a place on the Alto City Council, where council members are elected at large. The three incumbents – Jimmy Allen, Nathaniel Buckingham and Luke Johnson – have filed to retain their seats. Challenger Debra Grimes has also filed to be on the May 3 ballot.

Troup residents will also go to the polls to determine who sits on the next city council. Dianne Layne and Brandi Barton are the only ones to file for their seats, Place 1 and 2, respectively.

Place 4 Council Member Chip Richardson is not seeking re-election, but two others are seeking to replace him – Nolan Jeske and Kaston Kincade. Jeske was appointed to Place 5 in November 2024, to replace Fielding Winchester who resigned.

Susan Adams and Amy Murawski are contending for Place 5.

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