The first day of filing for positions on the city council, school board and water district board was a busy one.

On Monday, Feb. 8, two hopefuls filed for city council and three filed for school board. No one had filed for the water district board as of mid-afternoon Tuesday, Feb. 9.

The last day to file will be Monday, March 8.

Election day is Saturday, May 8, with early voting scheduled for April 26 through May 4.

City council

Three out of the four positions on the city ballot each drew one candidate.

As promised, Place 2 Councilman Keith McMullin filed for the mayor’s position being vacated by Claude Brown, who is moving to Pearland to take a job in June.

John Price seeks to fill McMullin’s place, and Steve Lanoux filed to replace Mike Hall in Place 6, who is leaving because of term limits.

While Place 4 council member Glenda Balentine, who is completing her first term, had picked up a packet, she had not returned it by Tuesday afternoon.

Council members whose second terms expire in 2011 are Keith Donley in Place 1 and Charles Bujan in Place 3. Place 5 Councilman Rick Pratt’s third term expires in 2011.

The city charter limits council members and the mayor to three consecutive terms. Terms are for two years.

A council member who has completed three consecutive terms may run for mayor, and a mayor who has completed three terms may run for council.

School board

The three places on the school board ballot had attracted one candidate each by Tuesday afternoon.

They are Michele Lorette for Place 4, held by Dr. Ken Dunton, who has said he will not seek re-election, and incumbents Rita Reed in Place 5 and Rick Adams in Place 6.

Terms are for three years, and there is no limit on the number of terms a trustee may serve.

Terms expire in May 2011 for trustees Chuck Borders in Place 2 and Jay Jones in Place 3.

Trustees Margaret Price in Place 1 and Ann Appling in Place 7 will see their current terms expire in May 2012.

Water board

Two incumbents on the water board signed up for another go round.

Both Marc Teller and Joan Holt filed to keep their positions just before press time on Wednesday.

Terms are for four years, and there are no term limits.

Russ Miget, Suzette Freeman and Ed Reed make up the rest of the board.

Statements

Candidates are invited to submit statements to the South Jetty announcing their candidacy. Statements should include the candidate’s qualifications and reasons for seeking office.

One statement per candidate, with a photo, will be published free of charge through the March 11 edition. Weekly deadline is noon Tuesday. Statements submitted after noon on March 9, may be published as paid advertising if the candidate chooses.

Candidates may submit photos of themselves or have one taken at the South Jetty office, 141 W. Cotter Ave.

Statements should be typewritten in upper and lower case (statements typed in all capital letters will not be accepted) and e-mailed to southjetty@centurytel.net. Candidates without access to e-mail should submit typewritten, doublespaced statements at the newspaper office. Handwritten statements will not be accepted.

Candidates’ Night

The South Jetty will host the 37th annual Candidates’ Night for candidates in contested races only on Thursday, April 29.

The voter education forum will be conducted in the city council chamber at city hall, 710 W. Ave. A, beginning at 6 p.m.

Candidates must confirm participation no later than noon Friday, April 9, by calling the South Jetty at 749-5131 or e-mailing editor and co-publisher Mary Judson at southjetty@centurytel.net.

Candidates who do not confirm their participation by the deadline will not be included in the forum designed to acquaint voters with candidates. The forum is not a debate.

Details on the format of Candidates’ Night will be announced at a later date.