The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Today marks the first day of open filing for the May 14 general elections. The seven incorporated cities and four of the five school districts within Orange County are expected to have open seats.

Cities:

Orange, which was previously a four-member district and is now a seven-member district (four single-member district represented seats, two at-large seats and a mayor), will have four seats open for filing: Place 2, currently held by Jimmy Sims, and Place 4, currently held by Bill Mello, are open as well as newly created seats Place 5 and Place 6. Those interested in filing need to contact Kerry Kittrell, city secretary, at 409-883-1042.

West Orange will have three seats open: Mayor, currently held by Roy McDonald, and two at-large council seats, currently held by councilmembers Charles Winter and Mike Trahan. Those interested need to contact Theresa Van Meter, city secretary, at 409-883-3468.

Pinehurst will have three seats open: two at-large seats, currently held by Bill Tiggs and Dan Barclay, and one council member seat, currently held by Dan Mohan. Those interested need to contact Debbie Cormier, city secretary, at 409-886-3873.

Bridge City will have three council seats open: Place 1, currently held by Kevin Mott; Place 3, currently held by Robert Simonton Jr.; and Place 5, currently held by Richard Savoy. Those interested need to contact Sherry Tisdale, city secretary, at 409-735-6801.

Vidor will have four seats open: Mayor, currently held by Ray Long; Ward 1, currently held by Don Eicher; Ward 4, currently held by Mallie Bickham; and Ward 6, currently held by David Slaughter. Those interested need to contact Rhonda Haskins, city secretary, at 409-769-5473.

Rose City will have three seats open: Mayor, currently held by David Bush, and two council seats, currently held by Carolyn Schoonfield and Ruth Dubison. Those interested need to call City Hall at 409-769-6809.

Pine Forest will have three seats open: Mayor, currently held by Jody Peno; Place 1, currently held by John T. Davis; and Place 5, currently held by Jason Dunwoody. Those interested need to call Lilith Thorn, city secretary, at 409-786-4100.

School Districts:

West Orange-Cove CISD will have two at-large positions open on the WOCCISD Board of Trustees. These positions are currently held by Dr. Mary Fontenot Hardin and Andrew Hayes. Those interested need to call Bonnie Tegge at 409-882-5500.

Bridge City ISD will have two seats open on the BCISD Board of Trustees, Place 6, currently held by Tom Orozco, and Place 7, currently held by Mark Anderson. Those interested need to Jean Manguson at 409-735-1602.

Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD will have two seats open on the LCMCISD Board of Trustees, Position 1, currently held by Brenda Mott, and Position 3, currently held by Keith Kyle. Those interested need to call 409-883-2232, ext. 2320.

Vidor ISD will have two seats open on the VISD Board of Trustees, Position 6, currently held by David Camp, and Position 7, currently held by Tim Harland. Those interested need to call Debbie Munoz at 409-951-8714.

The deadline to file for any of the available seats is by the close of day on Monday, March 14.