A member of the public with a visual impairment tests a voting machine at the Smith County Elections Office in Tyler on May 9, 2018. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Voters in Smith County will have choices to make this May as challengers step up to run against city officials and school board members in local elections.

The elections office is hoping the turnout, which is typically low for May elections, will be better this time around.

“The more the candidates actually go out and visit the different people,” Smith County Election Administrator Michelle Allcon said, “the more their name is heard, the more people realize there’s an election happening, the more people will actually come out to vote.”

The upcoming May 3 elections in Smith County will feature several key races. With the candidate filings finalized, voters will have the opportunity to decide on leadership that shapes local policies, from city government to education.

May elections often see low voter turnout, largely because people don’t realize they’re happening, forget about them or feel uninformed about the candidates. It’s up to the candidates to make themselves known — whether by attending community events, engaging with voters at school functions or political gatherings or increasing visibility through campaign signs.

“It really is on the candidates to go out and campaign,” Allcon said. “That’s really the only way people know who they are.”

Here’s a list of candidates in the city and school races:

Cities

City of Troup

Four city council seats are up for election but only two are contested. In Place 4, Nolan Jeske will face Kaston Kincade, while Susan Adams and Amy Louis Murawski will vie for the Place 5 seat.

Dianne Layne is running unopposed for Place 1, and Brandi Barton is unopposed for Place 3.

City of Tyler

Two city council seats are up for election.

In District 1, incumbent Stuart Hene will face challenger Max Stewart, while newcomers Shonda Marsh and Christian Gooden will vie for the District 3 seat currently held by Shirley McKellar, who has termed out on the council and announced her intent to run for mayor next year.

Lloyd Nichols, the incumbent for District 5, filed for reelection and is unopposed in the race. 

City of Hideaway

Three city council seats are up for election. Chet Thomas and Rob Wheelock are in the mayoral race. In Place 1, incumbent Laura George will face Allen Monholland, while Pat Bonds, Jim Caldwell and Mark Reid will vie for the Place 2 seat.

City of Winona

Luis Diaz, Terry Cole, Gary Fox and Craig Attaway are running for one of the five alderman positions.

School districts

Tyler ISD

Two board of trustees seats are up for election. In District 1, Eleno Licea will challenge incumbent R. Wade Washmon, while incumbent Yvonne Atkins faces challenger Carolyn Jones Davis for the District 3 seat.

Winona ISD

Three board of trustees seats are up for election. In Place 1, Dexter Jones will face William Allen, while Luis Hernandez and Randy Hawkins each look to fill Place 3. Baylen Lee, Headlee Daniels and Diane Newman will vie for Place 7.

Mark Wintters is running unopposed for Place 5.

Bullard ISD

Susie Turner Saxion, Cody Whitehead and John Turner will compete for Place 6, while Brian K. Herbert and Gerald Hawkins will vie for Place 7.

Lindale ISD

James Edwards Sr. and incumbent Robert McGee are in the race for Place 1, while Jeremy Strickland is uncontested for Place 2.

Important dates

April 3 is the last day to register to vote in the May election. To see if you are registered, visit https://teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do .’

Early voting will be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22-25 and April 28-29. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 3 for Election Day. 

April 22 is the last day to submit an application for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked). May 5 is the last day to receive ballot by mail. 

For more information, visit smith-county.com.