Early Voting starts on Monday, April 22nd for the upcoming City and School Elections.

This week, The ‘Times’ is publishing information provided by candidates in response to a series of questions.

Thank you to all the candidates who took the time to respond to our questions, and for assisting our readers in being informed voters this election cycle.

Election Day is Saturday, May 4th.

For dates and times for all poll locations, please reference the “Notice of the Uniform Election.”

 

Wortham ISD
School Board Trustee

Wortham ISD will have one race in this election cycle.

Incumbent Billy Perez will face write-in candidate Jordan Padgett for Place 1.

Place 2 will see incumbent Doug Miller unopposed.

Each candidate was invited to participate in this questionnaire.

Billy Perez responded, and here is what he had to say to his voters:

1. What qualifications or special training skills will you bring to the Board of Trustees?
–Billy Perez: As an incumbent, I have been on the Wortham ISD Board of Trustees for 11 years. I have worked and lived in Freestone County for over 25 years. I am currently the Executive Director of Fairfield EMS and have been serving in that capacity for over 24 years. I currently sit on the Board of Directors for the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council for Trauma Service Area G, serve as Vice-Chair (3 years), and have been a member for over 25 years. I also serve on the Wortham EDC Board as President and have served for 9 years. The experience I have gained over the last 20-plus years with various Boards gives me excellent knowledge and experience to draw upon for the position of School Board.

2. Looking back at this school year so far, what has the Board of Trustees excelled in doing?
–Billy Perez: Wortham has accomplished many things over the past year, new tennis courts, new Athletic Field House, but I think our greatest accomplishment is the maintenance and retention of our teachers and supporting staff.

3. What do you think has the biggest influence on a student’s ability to learn and succeed in school, and how can the school board help with that?
–Bill Perez: Teachers are the biggest influence on students, along with having a clean and inviting environment to learn.

4. The school district does many things well. Name one thing you would like to see improved, and what you would do as a school board member to see it accomplished.
–Billy Perez: As always, the one thing I always want to improve on is obtaining and retaining quality teaching staff for our students.

5. If elected, what is the one thing you would like to see the school district accomplish during your tenure?
–Billy Perez: Competitive teacher compensation.

6. Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
–Billy Perez: Re-Elect Billy Perez to Wortham ISD Place 1. Three generations of graduates from Wortham ISD, with the fourth generation currently attending Wortham ISD.

 

Fairfield ISD
School Board Trustee

Fairfield ISD will have two ballots for this election cycle.

One ballot will be for the 2 expiring terms (currently held by incumbent Michael Wren and Eric Chavers, appointed). These two positions will be for 3-year terms.

Three candidates have filed for these 2 positions: incumbent Eric Chavers and candidates Jeff Wright and Blake Robinson.

The other ballot will be for 1 unexpired term (currently held by Blake Robinson, appointed). This position will be for a 1-year term.

Two candidates have filed for this position: Ashlee Daniel and Cody Roller.

All candidates were invited to participate in a questionnaire to help voters get to know them. Responses were received from Jeff Wright and Cody Roller. Here are what they had to say about themselves and potential issues they could face, if elected this term:

1. What qualifications or special skills will you bring to the Board of Trustees?
–Jeff Wright: I am currently in my 29th year of teaching. I spent 28 years total in public education. Twenty-four of those were in FISD. Now that I have retired from public education, I currently teach at Faith Academy in Fairfield. I have taught every grade level from 5th through 12th as well as the 1st two years of college. With my experience, I have an intimate knowledge of how the school system works and what is needed to help our students thrive. I also previously served on the school board of Mexia ISD from 2001-2004, so I already have a good understanding of how a school board should function.
–Cody Roller: I am a fair and honest person, which I feel are the best characteristics anyone can have. I like to look at the whole picture, listen more than I talk, and then try to come up with solutions. Lastly, I have a servant and volunteering heart. I try to serve and volunteer my time in any organization and community I am involved in. For example, my involvement in the Fairfield Athletic Booster Club for the past fourteen years where I have served as the president for the past seven years. Seeing our students succeed is why I am most proud of the fact that this year alone we have donated over $30,000 to the FISD Athletic Department to directly benefit the student athletes.

2. Looking back at this school year so far, what has the Board of Trustees excelled in doing?
–Jeff Wright: This school year, the school board hired a new superintendent. From what I hear and from having visited with Mr. Craig for a little while, it certainly seems like they made a good choice inhering him. I look forward to working with him to help FISD continue to provide our students with the excellent education they deserve.
–Cody Roller: After having two board members resign this past summer, the board was able to recruit and fill those vacant seats with two members that had served previously on the FISD school board. This was done while also searching for and bringing in the new leadership to FISD, working through the budget, and increasing teacher salaries.

3. What do you think has the biggest influence on a student’s ability to learn and succeed in school, and how can the school board help with that?
–Jeff Wright: Based on my years of experience in education, I believe that there are two major factors that contribute to a student’s ability to learn and succeed in school. One of the two factors is the student’s home life. Student success is most often directly related to how involved the student’s parents are in the student’s education. The school board is limited in being able to change the home dynamic. The board can continue to provide opportunities for parents to connect with the school so that they can provide the support and encouragement the student needs at home. However, the parents have to make the choice within themselves to be involved. We can’t really change that. The second factor is the teacher. Teachers spend more time than any other school personnel with the students. Given the nationwide teacher shortage, I want to work with the rest of the board as well as the superintendent to find creative ways to retain and recruit high quality teachers. This is the area where the board can have the most direct influence. Good teachers are often able to reach students and help them not only to learn the material but also to develop a love for learning.
–Cody Roller: I think the biggest influence on a student’s ability to learn is the teachers and staff that are with our students every day. The school board can help with that by employing, retaining, and recruiting highly qualified teachers and staff. While also ensuring that they have every resource they need to make sure those students have every opportunity to succeed and excel.

4. The school district does many things well. Name one thing you would like to see improved, and what you would do as a school board member to see it accomplished.
–Jeff Wright: Fairfield ISD, as well as most other districts in the state, struggles to find applications for many of the positions we have in our district. Many factors contribute to that situation. What we as a board need to do is to work with the superintendent to implement policies that will draw good teachers to our district to help us keep the ones we have. Given that finances are limited in our current situation, we are really going to have to be creative in our efforts. We also need to work with teachers and seek their input. They are in the trenches daily. We need to find out what we can do to support them so that they can be the most effective in their classrooms. As we do that, no only will teachers want to stay, but other teachers will want to apply for our open positions.
–Cody Roller: Yes, Fairfield ISD does many things well. We have been known for both our academic and extracurricular success. I have been involved in and witnessed those successes as a student, a volunteer, spectator, and a parent. I would like to see us continue to grow both academically and extracurricularly for the students of FISD. I would like to see us strive and find ways to increase teacher compensation and benefits so that we can recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and employees for the betterment of our students and schools. I would also like to see us create a plan to update and improve our facilities in order to benefit our current students and staff and in hopes of attracting new students and their families.

5. If elected, what is the one thing you would like to see the school district accomplish during your tenure?
–Jeff Wright: My top priority should I be elected is our students. I want to make sure that our students are provided with the best education that we can give them. That will be done through making sure our teachers get the support and encouragement they need to thrive in their classrooms. Retaining and recruiting high quality teachers and supporting them in every way possible are the things I would most like to accomplish.
–Cody Roller: I would like to see our district expand our Career and Technical Program. CTE programs and courses provide unlimited educational opportunities for all students to acquire the necessary skills needed for direct entry into a global workforce or for continuing their education at the post-secondary level.

6. Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
–Jeff Wright: I am married to Betsy Wright. We both serve on staff at Round Prairie Baptist Church in Fairfield. We are grateful that God brought us here and are proud to call Fairfield our home.
–Cody Roller: I attended Fairfield ISD schools, Kindergarten through graduation. I am married to Andrea Roller, and together we have twin daughters, Alleigh and Audrey, Fairfield ISD 2030 graduates. I am employed by Hilcorp Energy, which was formally Exxon Mobil/XTO Energy. I have worked in my current place of employment for 19 years. In my current role at Hilcorp, my daily responsibilities include overseeing contract staff, managing accounts, and making decisions that affect daily operations. I am an active member of the First Untied Methodist Church of Fairfield, where I currently serve as Chair of Trustees.

 

City of Teague
Mayor and Aldermen

Up for re-election this cycle for City of Teague includes Mayor (held by David Huffman), Alderman 1 (held by Garlan Steed), and Alderman II (held by Lois Mims)

All three incumbents have declined to run for re-election.

A race has developed for the position of Mayor between James Monks, who previously served the position, and candidate Jack (Butch) Hansel.

Unopposed are Ron Rasbeary for Alderman I and Rhonda Jones for Alderman II. Both have previously served on the Teague City Council.

All candidates were invited to participate in a questionnaire to help voters get to know them.

Rhonda Jones replied stating that since she is running unopposed, she is not actively campaigning.

James Monks also replied. Here are what he had to say about himself and potential issues he could face, if elected this term:

1. What qualifications or special skills will you bring to the City of Teague as Mayor?
–James Monks: I severed as Mayor from 2018-2022, I have also previously served as a member of the city council and as mayor pro-tem. I am familiar with the city budget and day to day operations of the city. As Mayor, I understand that decisions made by the council will impact every member of our community, not only now, but into the future. This knowledge ensures that we make our decisions on what best serves the interests and needs of our community.

2. Looking over the past 12 months, what has the City of Teague excelled in doing?
–James Monks: During the last year, the city has completed the replacement of the early warning system as well as expanded the coverage areas of the sirens.

3. Name one thing you would like to see improved, and what you would do as Mayor to see it accomplished.
–James Monks: As in most small towns, the infrastructure is a never-ending struggle, trying to balance upgrading the systems and trying to pay for those changes. Our water and sewer systems are the lifelines of our community. It is my goal to continue seeking funding for replacement rather than repairs. We must have an adequate supply of clean fresh water, a way to deliver it to our homes as well as the needed equipment to carry the waste away for treatment. This can be funded through self-financed loans, grants or possibly issuing bonds. As areas of town are completed, we can shift our focus to the roads in those areas.

4. What is the most pressing issue faced by the City of Teague and how do you propose to remedy the problem?
–James Monks: In the last 24 months, budget expenditures by the city have increased dramatically. In April 2023, the city administrator notified the council that more money was being spent than was coming in. Several transfers were made from the fund reserve to offset these shortfalls. As we all know and see in our lives, costs are rising and putting a strain on everyone. I plan to work with the city staff and council to control unnecessary spending and still be able to continue with the day-to-day business of the city. It is my hope that we can attract new businesses and new housing developments to help spend our tax base.

5. Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
–James Monks: Teague is a great place to live, work, and raise our families. I have lived in Freestone County for 40 years and have lived and raised my family in Teague for the past 25 years. I feel that the new city council has the right members to sort these projects to the best benefit of the citizens of Teague, and I would appreciate your vote and support to serve as Mayor of this council.