Challengers needed
Elections may not be necessary for area cities
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

In February Chandler, Brownsboro and Murchison called for elections to allow the citizens of each community to choose who would be on each of their respective city councils. However, a lack of challenges to the incumbent positions means elections might not be needed for these cities.

Sonyia Foster, Brownsboro city secretary, said of the three incumbent positions in the Brownsboro city council, all three signed up to run for their offices again.

"There will still be an election unless no one signs up as a write-in to challenge them," Foster said.

March 17 is the deadline for write-in forms. These may be obtained at Brownsboro City Hall.

The three incumbents are Glen Vest, Mary Carnahan and Doug Shaffer.

The situation is similar in the city of Chandler.

Shirley Parmer, city secretary of Chandler, said only two of the three incumbents have signed on for another stay as councilmember.

"Ann Hall and Gene Giger have signed up," Parmer said.

The third position, councilmember Coy Ellis' position, has not yet been applied for. Ellis will not run for another term.

Just as in Brownsboro, the deadline for write-in applications is March 17, and these applications can be obtained from the Chandler City Hall office.

If no one signs up to fill Ellis' position one of two scenarios can occur. The council can either appoint someone to fill this position or vote to have an election specifically to fill the position.

"I've never seen an election where no one signed up for a position in my time here," Parmer said of the possibility of an open slot. "It'll be a first for me."

The city of Murchison's election situation is slightly different. Instead of having three councilmember incumbents to elect or challenge, Murchison has two city council positions and the position of the city mayor.

Megan Harville and Lance West are the two who have signed up to fill the city council positions.

Sharon Chase, Murchison city secretary, said it is likely the city will not have an election.

"The mayor is outgoing and no one has signed up to fill the position," Chase said. Harville and West have received no challenges as of March 11.

Murchison mayor Larry Everett spoke of appointing someone to be mayor, Chase said.

Because Tuesday, March 11, was the last day for Murchison to order an election, the decision was made at the monthly city council meeting. The results were not available at the time of this paper's deadline.

Chase said she didn't know when the mayor's last day would be.