Early voting for Port Arthur’s April 2 special election to decide a new District 4 city councilmember starts Wednesday and will continue through March 29.

Those wishing to vote early may do so from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. during the early voting period at City Hall , 444 Fourth Street, and the Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 Ninth Ave.

Extended hours to vote early have been established from the 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at City Hall, 444 Fourth St. on March 24 and March 29.

Two candidates are seeking the position including Keith Richard and Alicia Marshall.

The race’s winner will replace Stephen Mosely, who stepped down from the seat to run for the Precinct 3 Jefferson County Commissioner’s seat against the incumbent Michael “Shane” Sinegal.

Richard, 51, is not new to the Port Arthur political arena. Last May he ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Willie “Bae” Lewis for the District 5 City Council seat, losing the race by just a few votes.

The issues he campaigned on then are just as relevant today, he said.

Port Arthur needs to concentrate on its infrastructure, the city’s downtown revitalization plan, and most importantly, improved streets, he said.

Richard is a self-employed homebuilder and pastors to non-denominational churches: one in Port Arthur and the other in Nederland.

Marshall, 61, of Port Acres is disabled and semi-retired from a long career of office administrative jobs.

Early in her career, Marshall was employed by the city of Port Arthur, where she was the first woman hired in the city’s Operations Center. She was also timekeeper for the streets, drainage and sanitation departments.

She currently works part time for Family Dollar in Port Acres.

Marshall would like to see the city call a bond election to fix city streets, and establish a streets schedule so people would know when to expect construction on their street.

She would like the city to go back to the old purchase order system.

Trash and garbage issues should be addressed, as well as vendors selling food on the road, she said.

Marshall is a member of Faith Harbor Assembly of God Church in Port Acres, and has lived most of her live in Port Arthur.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

Twitter: skooncePANews