The filing period for the May 12 elections brought numerous candidates to the field for area school board vacancies. Meanwhile, several other trustee races garnered no challenger, and some positions failed to attract any candidates.
In Hunt County, less than half a dozen school districts will hold elections this spring.
The Greenville ISD race for Place 7 will be between Incumbent Charles Sivley and Craig Crabtree. Place 5 candidate and current board member Leah Tillotson is unopposed.
Two at-large positions are up for grabs in the Caddo Mills Independent School District, with incumbents Keith Hopkins and Jeremy Coddington filing for reelection. Vicki Childres Saldivar and Ruben Terry have also entered the race.
In Lone Oak, school district Incumbent Paul Kelley is seeking reelection. Scott Mahand and Charles Prim Jr. will also appear on the May ballot. There are only two at-large positions available.
Of the three seats open on the Quinlan ISD Board, one will be contested. Incumbent Michelle Harrison has filed for Place 2. She’ll be challenged by Chris Raduechel. Place 1 and Place 3 incumbents Kevin Fritch and Kenny Stone are unopposed.
Current board member Maxine Haywood is unopposed for Place 3 on the Wolfe City ISD, while Jill Woodruff will challenge Incumbent Clay Henslee for Place 4.
Five Hunt County school districts will not conduct trustee elections this May.
In Commerce, Randy Starks is unopposed in his quest for another term to Place 6. Medley Wilson is not seeking reelection for Place 7, and no one has filed for the vacancy. According to the Director of Personnel and Communications Ludonna Smithers, board members will have the option to appoint someone to fill the vacant position after May 12.
The Celeste ISD plans to cancel their election. There were three openings, with all three incumbents filing for another term. Jeffery Babers, Jeff Frasier and Carole McCaslin each received no opposition.
Meanwhile, the Boles and Bland ISD will conduct elections this November, while the Campbell ISD will not choose new board members until May 2013.
A number of other area school districts will cancel elections after not receiving enough candidates during the filing period.
The Cooper ISD had two positions open. Incumbents Darren Braddy & Jeff Phifer will retain their seats after receiving no opposition.
The same is the case for Fannindel ISD. Incumbent Charlene Crosby and Marva Scott were the only candidates to file for the two vacant seats.
Blue Ridge ISD incumbents Brad Duncan and Kevin Dauster will also not face any challengers this May. Their two seats were the only to become vacant this spring.
A few of the larger area school districts have at least one contested race.
In Bonham, voters will choose between Incumbent Monica Kissling and Adam Deas for Place 2, while Sean Floyd, Cody Nelson and Michael B. Williams are all vying for the Place 1 seat.
Three people have filed for the two vacant at-large positions on the Sulphur Springs ISD. Current board members Don Sapaugh & Jason Dietze will seek reelection. Leesa Toliver has also filed.
For the Paris Independent School District, George Fisher is unopposed for Place 1. Place 6 includes candidates Trace Christian and Jennifer Wilson.
Another Paris school district, Chisum ISD, will include a field of six candidates and only two openings. They include one incumbent, Wesley Jackson. The remaining persons are Larry Rickman, Kerry Washington, Todd Tisdell, Lori Collins and Kelly Jeffery.
Farmersville ISD has indicated they are not conducting an election this year, while the Como-Pickton Consolidated School District will hold their next election in May 2013.
KETR was unable to confirm elections and/or candidates for the following school districts on Wednesday: Cumby, North Hopkins, North Lamar, Prairiland, Rains, Roxton, Saltillo, Sam Rayburn and Sulphur Bluff.