May elections

With the exception of one candidate who filed late week for school board, no other candidates have stepped forward, and no races are contested.

The filing period, which began Feb. 6, ends March 5. Candidates may pick up packets at the respective administrative offices of each entity.

Early voting will be April 30 through May 8, and Election Day is May 12.

All but one incumbent on the city council, school district or water district board of directors will seek re-election.

Also on the ballot will be several charter amendments being proposed by the city as well as a referendum on a change to the Texas Coastal Management Plan that as it stands now would allow new kinds of vending on the beach. SCHOOL BOARD

Deputy city manager Dave Parsons filed for Place 7 on the school board last week. He’s filed for the position held by Ann Appling, who said if someone qualified stepped up, she would step aside. So far, she has not filed.

Margaret Price, president of the Port Aransas ISD Board of Trustees, and is stepping down, and Jim Brown filed to take her place.

Janice Roberts in Place 2, also filed for election.

Roberts was appointed to Place 2, which was vacated by the resignation in August of Chuck Borders after he was re-elected in May. Roberts is seeking election to the remaining two years of the term.

Trustees do not have term limits, and terms are for three years. CITY COUNCIL

No one other than the incumbents whose terms are expiring have filed for reelection.

Place 2 Councilman John Price, Place 4 Councilwoman Glenda Balentine, Place 6 Councilman Steve Lanoux and Mayor Keith McMullin filed the first week of the filing period.

McMullen, Price and Lanoux are completing their first terms, and Balentine is completing her second term.

The city charter limits the number of consecutive terms a council member or mayor may serve to three two-year terms.

Port Aransas voters will, however, be asked to cast ballots on five charter amendments and a referendum on rescinding the council’s vote to change the Coastal Man- agement Plan in such a way as to allow the council to permit more vending on the beach. WATER BOARD

Only the incumbent directors -- Russ Miget, Ed Reed and Suzette Freeman – have filed for re-election to their atlarge positions on the Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4 board of directors.

Water board directors are not subject to term limits. STATEMENTS

The South Jetty offers candidates to submit statements, accompanied by a photo, announcing their candidacy free of charge.

Candidates should include their qualifications and reasons for seeking office in the statements.

Deadline for turning in statements is noon Monday each week through March 12. Statements submitted after noon on March 12 may be published as paid advertising in subsequent week’s editions if the candidate chooses.

Statements must be typewritten in upper and lower case, and be limited to approximately 700 words. Handwritten statements and those written in all capital letters will not be accepted.

E- mail statements to southjetty@centurytel.net. Candidates without access to e-mail may mail statements to the South Jetty at P. O. Box 1117, Port Aransas, TX 78373, or deliver them to the newspaper office, 141 W. Cotter Ave.

Photos of the candidates my be submitted or they may have one taken at the South Jetty office, 141 W. Cotter. CANDIDATES’ NIGHT

The 39th annual Candidates’ Night sponsored by the South Jetty for candidates in contested races only will be held Thursday, April 26.

Participation in the event must be confirmed when candidates submit their statements or, for those declining the invitation to submit their statements, at the time they file for office.

Candidates who do not confirm participation will not be allowed to participate in the forum designed to acquaint voters with the candidates’ positions on specific issues.

The format and other details of Candidates’ Night will be announced at a later date.