Hadnot to challenge Tovar for Waelder mayor post

The election filing deadline for the Saturday, May 4 city council and school board elections in Gonzales County is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 and there are very few contested races so far as mostly incumbents have turned in their paperwork.

However, there definitely will be a race for mayor in Waelder as incumbent Roy R. Tovar will face a re-election challenger from Waelder City Council member Curtis Hadnot Jr.

Tovar is currently under indictment in Gonzales County for third-degree felony deadly conduct for discharging a firearm last July.

There are two at-large seats available on the Waelder City Council as well — one currently held by Peggy Blackmon and a seat held vacant since the death of Sam Ramirez. However, there have been no filings for those positions so far. Candidates must file for office at Waelder City Hall, 300 Hwy 90 West, Waelder.

Gonzales city

Seats available on the Gonzales City Council include District 1 (Joseph “Poochy” Kridler) and District 2 (Sherri Tumlinson Koepp). So far, Kridler and Koepp are the only candidates who have filed to run. Candidates must file for office at Gonzales City Hall, 820 St. Joseph St., Gonzales.

Nixon city

Seats available on the Nixon City Council include the mayor (Dorothy Riojas) and two at-large seats (Maggie Gaytan and Ellie Dominguez). According to City Secretary Tanya Torres, a candidate has filed for council, but the city is currently reviewing whether the person meets necessary residency requirements. No one else has filed so far. Candidates must file for office at Nixon City Hall, 302 E. Central Ave., Nixon.

Smiley city

Seats available on the Smiley City Council include mayor (Lisa Benavidez) and two at-large seats (Ellis Villasana and Melva Robinson Childress). Benavidez is the only candidate for mayor so far and Villasana and Lisa Douglas have filed for the at-large seats. Candidates must file for office at Smiley City Hall, 207 Steele St., Smiley.

Gonzales ISD

Seats available include District 4 (Josie Smith-Wright) and District 7 (Sandra Gorden). So far, the incumbents are the only candidates who have filed to run. Candidates must file for office at Gonzales ISD Administration, 1615 St Louis St., Gonzales.

Nixon-Smiley CISD

Seats available include Place 2 (Bud Box) and Place 3 (Richard Lott). So far, the incumbents are the only candidates who have filed to run. Candidates must file for office at Nixon-Smiley CISD Administration, 800 N. Rancho Road, Nixon.

Waelder ISD

Seats available are three at-large seats (JoAnn Ibarra, Adolph Gonzales and Jamie Castro). Ibarra and Gonzales have filed for re-election, while Donna Brown has also filed to run. Candidates must file for office at Waelder ISD Administration, 201 US Hwy 90 W, Waelder.

The last day to register to vote in the May 6 election is Thursday, April 4. Early voting begins Monday, April 22 and continues through Tuesday, April 30.

In order to run for office, according to Texas Election Code Section 141.01, an individual must be a citizen of the United States; 18 years of age or older on the first day of the term to be filled at election; have not been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court; have not been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the disabilities; have resided continuously in the state for 12 months and in the territory as applicable for six months immediately preceding the deadline for filing an application for a place on the ballot. Candidates also must satisfy any other eligibility requirements prescribed by law for a particular office.