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March 8, 2010

Local school board elections heating up

Mary Meaux The Port Arthur News

— Two more hats were thrown into the political ring for spots on the May ballot.

Julia Samuels, who served on the Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees, filed for one of two spots on Monday.

In Nederland ISD Stephen Savant joins a list of five other candidates for two spots on the board of trustees.

PAISD

Samuels, who is retired, once served as president and as a trustee of the Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees.

She lost a bid for reelection in May 2008.

Incumbents Willie Mae Elmore and Theo Victor have filed for re-election to their respective seats.

The three-year seats are at-large with the two top vote getters earning seats on the board.

Nederland ISD

A total of six candidates will vie for two open seats on the Nederland ISD board of trustees in May.

Incumbent Suzanne Isom has filed for reelection while fellow incumbent, Ronnie Cessac, has not.

 Isom, a housewife, has served on the board of trustees since 2001.

Savant, who is self-employed at Savant’s Collision, was the last of the candidates in Nederland ISD to file.

Other candidates include: Patrice Kihlken, a project manager; Nicholas Phillips, an educator; Kay DeCuir, consultant, Realtor; and Beverly Lee Minaldi, a retired teacher.

Port Neches-Groves ISD

Over at the Reservation, two seats are up for grabs and four candidates have come forth.

Incumbent Gary Stretcher, Place 4, has filed for reelection. Melanie Miller, analyist/specification writer, has filed for the Place 4 spot.

Incumbent Rodney Balsamo, Place 5 trustee, has also filed for reelection. He is being challenged by Michael Tentrup.

Port Arthur mayor

Incumbent Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince has filed for election to a second term. She is joined on the ballot by former three-time mayor Oscar Ortiz; former City Councilman Willie “Bae” Lewis and Lowra A . Read, an environmental specialist.

The May election won’t be the first mayoral showdown between Prince and Lewis.

Prince, the city’s first black mayor, was elected in June 2007 after defeating Lewis in a runoff election.

Lewis is currently employed as a process analyzer technician at Port Arthur’s Valero refinery.

Prior to her election, Prince served a term and a half as District 7 Port Arthur City Councilwoman.

Ortiz, who is retired, said he would like to return the city back toward a time when Port Arthur was the envy of others, not the butt of jokes as it has become since he was mayor. 

Nederland Mayor, council

The race for the mayors seat and two spots on Nederland City Council drew no challengers.

Incumbent Mayor Dick Nugent filed for another term.

Ward 2 incumbent Billy Neal and Ward 4 incumbent Bert Rogers both filed for another term. Neither of the three incumbents drew opponents for their seats.

Port Neches council

In Port Neches, incumbents Roy Hollier and Terry Schwertner filed for their respective Place 1 and Place 2 positions.

Neither Hollier or Schwertner are being challenged for their seats.

Voters in Port Neches will have the chance to cast a ballot regarding the possible adoption of Civil Services for the Port Neches Police Department.

Early voting begins April 26 through May 4 for the May 8 election.

mmeaux@panews.com

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