Candidates begin filing for trustee spots

MARY MEAUX

The first day to file for a spot on local school boards brought out both seasoned veterans and some fresh faces.

Filing began Monday and runs until March 8. Those planning to file can do so at their respective school districts.

Port Arthur ISD — Two seats are up for grabs on the Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees.

The seats are currently filled by incumbents Willie Mae Elmore and Theo Victor.

Elmore, a nurse educator, has served on the board of trustees for 13 years while Victor, a director of plant operations, has served for three years.

As of Monday afternoon there were no filings for the open positions.

The terms for trustees are three years.

For more information, call 989-6200.

Nederland ISD — Two trustee seats are expiring this May and one incumbent and one newcomer have tossed their hats into the ring.

Suzanne Isom, a housewife, has served on the board of trustees since 2001. Isom filed for re-election on Monday.

Newcomer Patrice Kihlken, a program manager, has also thrown her hat into the ring,

Longtime trustee Ronnie Cessac, who has served on the board since 1992, had not filed by Monday afternoon.

The terms for trustees are three years.

For more information, call 724-2391.

Port Neches-Groves ISD — Incumbents Gary Stretcher, Place 4, and Rodney Balsamo, Place 5, filed for re-election, Executive Secretary Bonnie Jennings said.

Stretcher joined the board of trustees in June 2006 following the death of longtime board member Trudy Holder. Stretcher served in the spot for a year then opted not to run for re-election during the May 2007 race.

In December 2007, longtime trustee Jim Westbrook retired from the board and Stretcher was chosen as his replacement for the Place 5 seat and in May 2008 Stretcher earned the seat again.

Rodney Balsamo is finishing his first year in office having stepped in after the death of Harvey Brown last year.

Newcomer Michael Tentrup has also filed for the Place 5 seat on the Port Neches-Groves ISD board of trustees.

Tentrup is the landfill manager for the city of Port Arthur.

The terms for trustees are three years.

For more information, call 722-4244, extension 6.

Sabine Pass ISD

Three seats are up for grabs in Sabine Pass ISD.

The seats held by Jeff Williams, Karen Garrision and Kirk Blood are up for election

Williams, who is self-employed, is completing his third term and has served on the SPISD board previously as well.

Garrision, a retired teacher, is completing her third term and Blood, an employee with Texas Parks and Wildlife, is completing his first year on the board of trustees. Blood came on board last year to replace Sam Garrison.

The terms for trustees are for three years.

For more information about filing, call 971-2321.

mmeaux@panews.com