Candidates may throw hats in political ring starting Monday
BY MARY HENKEL JUDSON SOUTH JETTY EDITOR

ELECTION 2008

The filing begins Monday, Feb. 11, for positions on the city council, school board and water district.

It continues through Monday, March 10.

Early voting will be April 28 through May 6, and Election Day is Saturday, May 10.

CANDIDATES' NIGHT

Candidates' Night, a voter education forum sponsored by the South Jetty for candidates in contested races , is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 24.

Candidates are asked to confirm their participation in Candidates' Night no later than Tuesday, March 11, by calling the South Jetty at 749- 5131, or e-mailing editor Mary Judson at southjetty@centurytel.net.

Candidates who have not confirmed their participation in the forum will be considered as not participating, and no provision will be made for their involvement.

STATEMENTS Candidates are invited to submit statements listing their qualifications and reasons for seeking office to the South Jetty. The statements will be published, with photos of the candidates, at no charge in each edition of the South Jetty through March 13. Candidates who submit statements after the final deadline may have their statements published at regular advertising rates.

Statements must be submitted before noon each Tuesday through March 11, to be published in the following Thursday's edition. They should be limited to 600 words and must be typewritten in upper and lower case (handwritten statements or those written in all capital letters will not be accepted).

Statements may be e-mailed, with 'Candidate Statement' written in the subject line, to southjetty@centurytel. net, or mailed to P.O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373.

Candidates may submit photos of themselves or have a photo taken by prior arrangement at the South Jetty office, 141 W. Cotter St. Photos e-mailed, to the address mentioned previously, should be attached as jpeg files.

CITY COUNCIL

Terms are expiring for mayor and Places 2, 4 and 6 on the city council.

Mayor Claude Brown said last week he "probably will" seek reelection, but had not returned a call from the South Jetty by press time this week.

Place 2 incumbent, Keith McMullin, who is completing his first term, said last week that he plans to file first thing Monday morning.

Bubba Jensen, incumbent in Place 4, is completing his third and final term since the city charter limits council members to three two-year terms.

Place 6 incumbent Mike Hall was still not ready to comment on his plans for seeking a third and final term.

SCHOOL BOARD

Terms for school board incumbents in Place 2 and 3 are expiring. An election in Place 4 will be for the two years remaining in the term vacated by Bob Smith who resigned.

Dr. Ken Dunton, incumbent in Place 2, has said he will probably run for the remaining two years left in the Place 4 position.

That would give him enough time "see through the completion of a few programs that I feel are important to the students."

Michael Garlough, who was appointed to fill Place 2 until the May election after Bob Smith resigned, said he probably will run for another place on the board.

Incumbent in Place 3, Lorraine Stern, said she will seek re-election.

WATER DISTRICT

All three incumbents on the Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 will seek election.

Terms are for four years. Incumbents whose names will be on the ballot for the three at-large positions are Russ Miget, Ed Reed and Suzette Freeman.