This year’s General Election will have more candidates than ever before, as several springtime elections will be held this Fall, due to postponement during the coronavirus pandemic.

Voters, however, may enjoy the one-stop “shopping” experience, as City Council, School Board, and a Special Hospital Board proposition will all be conducted as a Joint Election with Freestone County, Texas.

This means visiting only one poll location to cast votes in the General Election, and in City, School and Hospital District elections.

GENERAL ELECTION

Among those positions on the ballot in the General Election include:

–U.S. President: incumbent Donald J. Trump (R), Joseph R. Biden (D), Jo Jorgensen (L), Howie Hankins (G);
–U.S. Senator: incumbent John Cornyn (R), Mary “MY” Hegar (D), Kerry McKennon (L), David Collins (G);
–U.S. Representative (Dist. 17): Pete Sessions (R), Rick Kennedy (D), Ted Brown (L);
–Texas Railroad Commissioner: James “Jim” Wright (R), Chrysta Castañeda (D), Matt Sterett (L), Katija “Kat” Gruene (G);
–State Board of Education: incumbent Tom Maynard (R), Marsha Burnett-Webster (D), Trip Seibold (L);
–State Representative – District 8: incumbent Cody Harris (R), R. Edwin Adams (L);
–77th District Judge: incumbent Pat Simmons (R).

This year’s County level positions are all unopposed, all of which have filed as Republicans. Candidates include:

–County Attorney Brian Evans,
–County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley,
–County Tax Assessor-Collector Daniel M. Ralstin (incumbent Lisa Foree did not file for re-election),
–County Commissioner – Pct. 1 Andy Bonner,
–County Commissioner – Pct. 3 Lloyd Lynn Lane (incumbent Michael Daniels did not file for re-election),
–Constable – Pct. 1 Buck Bonner,
–Constable – Pct. 2 Daniel Ramsey (incumbent Lynn Clary did not file for re-election),
–Constable – Pct. 3 Richard Lee McGowan (who beat out incumbent Pamela Brackens Barnes during the primaries)
–Constable – Pct. 4 Ken I. Sessions (incumbent Wade Harrison did not file for re-election).

SPECIAL HOSPITAL BOARD ELECTION

A Special Rollback Election has been called for Fairfield Hospital District for Voting “for” or “against” the proposition for “Reducing the tax rate in Fairfield Hospital District for the current year from 0.215 to 0.137203.”

It is important to note that the current year actually refers to the 2019-2020 fiscal year, wording which would have made more sense, had the Special Proposition Election been held in May as previously planned.

However, when the Hospital District was required to postpone the election, they were legally not allowed to change the wording on the ballot.

Essentially, the rollback proposition, should it pass, would affect property taxes that have already been collected. This means that taxpayers would receive a refund for the difference between the two rates.

The refund would amount to 0.077797 cents per $100 property valuations from the 2019-2020 fiscal year (mailed to landowners last year).

Voting “For” the proposition would mean a small refund for taxpayers.

Voting “Against” the proposition would allow Fairfield Hospital District to keep those monies that have already been collected.

CITY COUNCIL

Here are the candidates for city elections:

–City of Fairfield
Running for Mayor will be incumbent Kenneth Hughes against challenger Jason Bosley.
Seeking Place 1 Council position will be Jeffrey Price and Bettye Trask.
On the ballot for Place 2 Council position will be incumbent Randy Johnson and James Tyus.

–City of Teague
Vying for Mayor will be incumbent James Monks against challenger Lois Mims.
Incumbent Jerry Ballew, Alderman Place 1, is unopposed.
Running for Alderman Place 3 is former Alderwoman Marilyn Michaud, running unopposed (incumbent Marie Hertenberger chose not to run).

–City of Streetman
Filing for Mayor is incumbent Johnny Robinson.
Seeking to fill two At-Large Commissioner seats are incumbents Heather Davis and Barbara Polk, and challenger Billy R. Butler.

SCHOOL BOARD
Here are the candidates for school elections:

–Fairfield ISD
Three candidates will be running for two At-Large spots on the Board of Trustees. They are incumbents Kevin Benedict and John Fryer, along with challenger Kyle Lightsey.

–Wortham ISD
Incumbent Michael Dunn is unopposed for Place 5 on the Board of Trustees.
Place 6 incumbent Russell Black will face challenger Waylon Gierisch.
Unopposed is Place 7 incumbent Jeff Jones.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

Early Voting begins Tuesday, October 13, 2020 and will last through Friday, October 30, 2020.

Locations in Freestone County include the Fairfield Civic Center (Green Barn) at 839 E. Commerce Street in Fairfield, Texas and Teague City Hall at 105 S. 4th Avenue in Teague, Texas.

Dates and times are as follows:

–Fairfield Civic Center:
Tues., Oct. 13 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 14-16 – 8AM-5PM
Mon., Oct. 19 – 8AM-5PM
Tues., Oct. 20 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 21-23 – 8AM-5PM
Mon., Oct. 26 – 8AM-5PM
Tues., Oct. 27 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 28-30 – 8AM-5PM

–Teague City Hall:
Tues., Oct. 13 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 14-16 – 8AM-5PM
Mon., Oct. 19 – 8AM-5PM
Tues., Oct. 20 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 21-23 – 8AM-5PM
Mon., Oct. 26 – 8AM-5PM
Tues., Oct. 27 – 7AM-7PM
Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Oct. 28-30 – 8AM-5PM

SAFETY TIPS
Wash hands or use sanitizer before and after voting, try to stay 6 feet from others, and wear a mask, are the recommendations given by health professionals. Simply maintaining space while waiting in line to vote can help prevent the spread of germs.

Physicians remind everyone of these tips for voting in person:

— Stay at least six feet away from others;
— Bring your own pen, pencil, or stylus;
— Wash or disinfect your hands before and after voting;
— Wear a face mask (you might have to remove it briefly for the election judge to confirm your identity); and
— Stay home if you’re sick.