Early voting begins in city, TMHD races
Trinity Standard -

TRINITY – Early voting for both the Trinity City Council and Trinity Memorial Hospital District (TMHD) races got underway Monday and will continue weekdays through May 8. Election Day in both elections will be held Saturday, May 12. Both early voting and Election Day voting in the city election is in the council chambers of Trinity City Hall at the corner of Madison and Elm streets. Early voting hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except for May 8. On the final day of early voting, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, the city polls also will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early and Election Day voting in the TMHD election will be in the school board meeting room of the Trinity Independent School District’s administrative office near the intersection of Jefferson and Elm streets. Early voting hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 12. As of Tuesday morning, a total of 80 people had voted in person in the city races while another 44 had submitted mail ballots. Voter interest in the TMHD election was not running as high, with only 14 ballots cast by personal appearance and one by mail. The Trinity school district also would normally have an election at this time but was able to cancel it when only the two incumbent board members filed as candidates for the two open positions. Under state law, Judy Bishop and Bill Weaver will be named the winners of the TISD positions and will be sworn into new terms after May 12. In the city election, the mayor and three council positions are on this year’s ballot, but only two of the council seats have challengers. Incumbent Councilman Wayne Huffman is being challenged by Debbie Quan for the Position 2 seat and incumbent Position 3 Councilman Chris Dennis is opposed by Dan “Bubba” Barnes. Unopposed on the city ballot this year will be Mayor Lyle Stubbs and Position 1 Councilman Clegg DeWalt. All four of the city positions carry two-year terms of office. On TMHD’s ballot this year, only one of the four open board positions is being challenged. Incumbent Position 4 Board Member Laura Vanecek is being challenged by Janice Smith for the two-year term in office. Only the incumbent candidates filed for the other three board positions and will be unopposed on the election ballot. They include Position 2 Board Member Larry King, Position 6 Board Member Carlyn Bluis and Position 8 Board Member Dave Ward. On the heels of the May 12 local election will be the delayed May 29 Democratic and Republican party primary elections. Early voting statewide will begin on Monday, May 14. That election will include candidates seeking county, district, state and national offices.