Candidate filing ended this week for those seeking a place on the ballot in the local May 4 elections. In a flurry of last-minute action before Friday’s deadline, several candidates signed up, filling what were potentially vacant seats and setting the stage for contested school and hospital board races.

Altogether, nine elected positions were up for grabs in the spring election, including three city council seats, two seats on the hospital board, two on the school board, and two on the water board.

Four candidates are now seeking election to the Canadian ISD Board of Trustees. Cody Culwell was the first candidate to sign up for re-election. In the final hours before Friday’s filing deadline, three other candidates--Jessica Cowden, Meredith Yarnold and Heath Hayden--filed for seats on the board, setting up a four-way school board race on May 4. 

In another last-minute filing, former Hemphill County Hospital District trustee Jesse Hanes also signed up as a candidate for election to that board. In doing so, he joined incumbents Karen Gullett and Sharon Carr as candidates, forcing the only other contested May 4 election.

Wendie Cook and Ashlee Talley each joined Gary Prater as candidates for re-election to the City Council. With three seats up for grabs, and only three candidates on the ballot, the city council election will be uncontested. Likewise, no challengers appeared for the Underground Water District board, where incumbents Spencer Hanes and Craig Cowden are both seeking re-election. Neither election will be contested.

Early in-person voting in the May 4 election begins on Monday, April 22, and ends on April 30. It will be conducted at the Canadian ISD Administration Building located at 800 Hillside Avenue.

A NOTE TO THE CANDIDATES

All prospective candidates are encouraged to send a brief declaration of candidacy and photograph to The Canadian Record, introducing themselves to voters and explaining their reasons for seeking public office. There is no charge for the announcement, which should be emailed to editor@canadianrecord.com. We will confirm receipt. For more information, call 806.323.6461 or 806.570.3033.

All subsequent political announcements, including candidate endorsements, will be accepted for publication as advertising, and must be paid for in advance and accompanied by a simple political disclosure statement, as required by Texas Election Law (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/data/resources/advertising/Gpol_adv.pdf).

The disclosure statement must include the words “political advertising,” and the full name of either the person who paid for the advertising; the political committee which authorized it; or the candidate; or specific-purpose committee supporting the candidate, if authorized by the candidate.

Campaign announcements and advertising may be submitted to The Canadian Record, PO Box 898, Canadian, TX 79014, or by email to editor@canadianrecord.com, and should include an address and phone number.