Candidates throughout Grayson and Fannin counties will hold their breaths May 8 when voters go to the polls to elect their local mayors and city council and school board members.
In some areas, candidates are unopposed and elections will likely be canceled; in some, as many as 10 candidates will battle over three seats; and in some, no candidates have filed. However, while the regular filing date has passed, potential candidates can run as a write-in candidate, but they must file by March 15. To file, a person must contact his or her local city secretary or school district administration.
Listed below are those who filed as regular candidates. Incumbents are marked with and 'i' following their names. Any school district or city not listed could not be reached via phone by deadline Wednesday. They may contact the Herald Democrat with a list of their candidates by calling 903-893-8181.
Grayson County
City of Bells -- Mayor: Shirley Mullinix (i), Tommy Carter and Gary Martin; three two-year term council seats: A.L. Isom (i), Mike Ramsey (i), Jeff Cockrill, Richard Dyer, Dwight Fleming, Tammy Hartline, Angela LeBlanc, Chad Mulkey, Charlie Powell and Jennifer Powers.
Bells ISD -- two at-large board seats: Brian Hassey (i), Jeannie Russell (i) and Paul Richards.
City of Collinsville -- three at-large council seats: Don Grahamm (i), Brandon White (i), Derek Kays, Austin Lewter, Benny McKee, Carrol McKnight, Gary Pafford and Tonya Price.
Collinsville ISD -- place 6: Justin McDonnell (i); place 7: Johnny Lee Godsey (i) and Rebecca Denton.
City of Dorchester -- two at-large council seats: Willies Ballou (i) and Boyd R. Dunn (i).
City of Gunter -- place 1: Chris Douglas; place 3: Dan Moody (i) and Charles Skeen; place 5: John Schmitt (i) and Jamie Penner.
Gunter ISD -- two at-large board seats: Rusty Arrington (i) and L.D. Byrd (i).
Howe ISD -- two at-large board seats: Greg Akins (i) and Scott Renfro (i).
City of Pottsboro -- three at-large council seats: Mary Helen Chapin (i), Landon Goins (i) and Gary Watkins (i).
Pottsboro ISD -- two at-large council seats: Billy Hamilton (i), Mike Reynolds (i), Scott Bates, Carmela Gill, Robert Powlison, Sara Rutherford and Cody Spicer.
City of Southmayd -- three at-large council seats: Michael Horstman (i), Teresa Miller (i), Robert Thompson.
S&S CISD -- place 2: Mark Lancaster (i); place 7 Bill Hudson (i).
City of Tioga -- three at-large council seats: Rebecca Binyon (i), Ken Blanks (i), Aaron Luneau and Heather Nesmith.
Tioga ISD -- one-year term seat: Rob Hill (i); two-year term seat: Larry Hughes (i); two full-term seats: Rickey Kemp (i), Jeff Hammonds (i) and Rick Staples.
City of Tom Bean -- mayor: Sherry Howard (i); two at-large council seats: Donnie Achimon (i) and Janet Schaab (i).
Tom Bean ISD -- two at-large board seats: Don Bannister, James Harris, David Mathes and Jinger Peeples
City of Van Alstyne -- three council seats: Jon Bormann (i), Jack Trammell (i), Nancy Webb (i) and Jim Smith
Van Alystyne ISD -- place 1: Sharon Gentle and Kurt Himmelreich; place 2: Holly Carter (i) and Bo Mosby.
City of Whitesboro -- three at-large seats: Herald Butts (i) and Charles Whitecotton (i).
Whitesboro ISD -- two at-large seats: Jim Hoenig (i), T.R. Fletcher, Gregg Hickman, David Perdom, Stacey Redish and Derrick Welch.
City of Whitewright -- Mayor: Bill Goodson (i) and Jim Reiter; place 3: James Shiplet, Tabetha Snow; place 4: Mike Martin (i) and Martha Mangrum; place 5: Ruby Howell (i).
Whitewright ISD -- three at-large board seats: Michael Dodson (i), Linda Jester (i), Jack Rogers (i).
Fannin County
City of Bonham -- place 2: Ruth Ann Thomas (i); place 3: Brad Underwood (i); place 4 Glenn Taylor (i).
Bonham ISD -- place 3: Press Cox; place 4: Jim Simpson; place 5: Bob Thomas.
City of Dorchester -- two at-large council seats: Willies Ballou (i) and Boyd R. Dunn (i).
Dodd City ISD -- three at-large board seats: Matt Cowan (i), Thomas Lackey (i) and Gail Parker (i).
Ector ISD -- three at-large board seats: Ewina Lane (i), Tammy Mayo (i) and Windy Whitehead (i).
Fannindel ISD -- two at-large board seats: Mary Davis (i) and Mandy Duplechan.
City of Gunter -- place 1: Chris Douglas; place 3: Dan Moody (i) and Charles Skeen; place 5: John Schmitt (i) and Jamie Penner.
City of Honey Grove -- Mayor: Harold Roberts (i) and Leigh Dixon; two at-large council seats: Gregg Beavers (i) and Andy Lane (i).
City of Ladonia -- Mayor: Mayor Jan Cooper (i), Dan Robertson and Lindon Warden; two two-year term council seats: C.D. Chris Porter (i), Cheryl Seilhan (i), Benny Joe Combs, Kay Herron and P.K. Kikpatrick; two one-year term council seats: Shanon Bankston and Amanda Adams.
City of Leonard -- Mayor: Bill Yoss (i); two at-large council seats: Jane Blackerby (i).
Leonard ISD -- two at-large board seats: Jack Bonds (i) and James Watson (i).
City of Savoy -- Mayor: Charles Downs (i); two two-year term council seats: Allen McCauley (i) and David Warlick (i); two one-year term council seats: Mike Stone (i).
Savoy ISD -- two at-large council seats: Darlene Fuller (i), Bill Harris (i), Tracy Garrison and Curtis Smith.
City of Trenton -- three at-large council seats: Lew Donaghey (i) and Pam Trusty (i).
Trenton ISD -- two at-large board seats: Kristy Stringer (i) and Chris Hollahan.