Thursday is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming Lamar County elections, which include two school bonds, various school boards and city council members. Prairiland and North Lamar ISD are both seeking community support on school bonds – Prairiland ISD’s $7.5 million bond and North Lamar ISD’s $51.55 million bond.
- North Lamar ISD board and $51.55 million bond:
On North Lamar ISD’s ballot for Jeff Martin’s and Kristi Trammel’s positions are Clint Spencer, Justin Wideman, Jimmy Fendley and Teresa Bussell. Neither Trammell nor Martin filed for re-election.
With Proposition A, more than $43 million will go toward renovating the 47-year-old Everett Elementary School, improving Parker Elementary School (1940) in Powderly, Frank Stone Middle School (1965) and North Lamar High School (1994).
As part of the $51.55 million bond, proposition D and E include $4.2 million toward fine arts and $2.075 million toward an athletics proposal – resurfacing the track, improvements to baseball, softball and football fields. Plus the athletic proposal will go toward the district’s indoor athletics facility improvements.
Propositions B and C will help improve the district’s transportation and technology – $1.8 million and $405,000, respectively.
- Prairiland ISD Board and $7.5 million bond:
Prairiland ISD canceled its May 1 board election as incumbents Jerrod Bankhead and Ryan Gordon were running unopposed. However, the district continues to vie for community support on May 1’s $7.5 million bond election.
According to Prairiland Superintendent Jeff Ballard, the $7.5 million bond will have no effect on property taxes because it will be funded by an increase in tax revenue from solar farms within the district. He said the district will have an additional $1 billion in added value for the next, at least, two years.
With its $7.5 million bond, Prairiland ISD plans to add classrooms to both the elementary and junior high schools, alongside a multi-purpose building at the elementary school.
“The increase in values from the solar farms plus our existing tax rate will generate an extra $7.5 million. We are NOT increasing our tax rate to do these projects,” Ballard previously said.
- Paris City Council:
Two are vying for the District 4 position, currently held by Steve Clifford. As Clifford is term limited, Mihir Pankaj and James O’Bryan are seeking the District 4 position on Paris City Council.
Pankaj currently serves as Paris Economic Development Corp. Director and is also a Paris ISD trustee. O’Bryan is a former Planning and Zoning Commission member.
District 7 Paula Portugal and District 5 Linda Knox are unopposed incumbents.
- Paris ISD Board:
The two incumbents who are running unopposed include Paris ISD Board President and Place 1 George Fisher and Place 2 Jenny Wilson.
- Reno City Council:
Members running unopposed for re-election include Mayor Bart Jetton, City Councilman Stacey Nichols and City Councilwoman Amanda Willows.
- Blossom City Council:
Jeff Stover is running unopposed for the mayor position, as Mayor Charlotte Burge is unopposed for a seat. Elizabeth May is also running unopposed for an additional seat on Blossom City Council.
Neither Roger Dougherty Jr. nor Debra Burge sought reelection.
Early voting runs from April 19 to April 27. To register to vote in the May 1 election, click here or visit LamarCountyElections.com.
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