(This article has been edited for correction.)
Although primary campaigns are in full force, Texas will decide the nominee on the general ballot on Super Tuesday, March 5, 2024. However, another filing period begins next Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, for municipal elections. Municipal elections are for city councils, school boards, hospital boards, and other boards for local taxing entities. In Terry County, there will be eight entities that will have elections. They include the City of Brownfield, the City of Meadow, the City of Wellman, Brownfield ISD (BISD), Meadow ISD (MISD), Wellman-Union CISD (WUCISD), Brownfield Regional Medical Center, and South Plain Underground Water Conservation District.
There are four seats up for election for the City of Brownfield which are the mayor, District 1, 2, & 3. The current mayor of Brownfield, Tom Hesse, cannot run again due to term limits. This will become an open election with no incumbent. District 1 is currently held by Councilwoman Kelli Mendez. She has been in that seat for one term and is eligible for another term. District 2 is held by Celso Duran and he cannot run due to term limits. The seat will be an open seat with no incumbent running. In District 3, Councilman JC Tijerina holds that seat and is eligible to run for another term.
The City of Meadow will have three positions for elections. For the City of Meadow, there are no term limits, so those whose term is up can run again. The three positions that will have an election are the mayor and two at-large seats. Currently, the mayor is Natalie Howard and the two at-large seats are held by Councilwoman Maria Fraire and Councilman Chase Flemming. For the City of Wellman, there are three council seats up for election and like Meadow, there are no term limits. So those who hold the current seats can run again if they choose to. Seat 1 is held by Councilman Cody Griffiths, Seat 3 is held by Jake Rempel, and Seat 5 is held by Lucia Ramirez.
All three school districts in Terry County will have elections as well and there are no term limits on these seats as well. For BISD there are three seats up for election. District 1 is up for special election and has been vacant since May of 2021. Since then, there has been a special election for District 1 in May of 2022, in which nobody filed and a regular election for District 1 in May of 2023, in which nobody filed. This will be the fourth cycle and special election for District 1. BISD District 1 is mainly located west of Lubbock Rd (US Hwy 62/82) and north of West Hill Street (Northwestern portion of Terry County). Also portions of the Cordill Addition, Webb Subdivision, Great Lone Star Subdivision, and Palisade Park Addition. The two other seats for BISD up for election are at-large positions, which are currently held by Cat Gonzales and Matt Valdonado.
MISD has three at-large positions coming up for election and those seats are held by Daniel Harrington, Ruben Villalpando, and Jody Woodard. There are no term limits for these positions. WUCISD has two at-large seats up for election with Jace Moore and Gabe Neill holding those positions. These are also no term-limit positions.
BRMC has three board of directors-at-large seats up for election and there are no term limits. Those seats are held by June Cooper, Chuck Nave, and Brian Paiva. Director Nave was voted in last year in 2023 to an unexpired term. That position will be back on track. Next is the SPUWCD with three positions up for election. Those include one at-large held by Gage Neill, Precinct 2 held by Matt Hogue, and Precinct 4 held by Barrett Brown.
Filing for municipal and local elections will begin Wednesday, January 17, 2024, and will end on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. You can file your candidacy at the Terry County Joint Election Office located at the Terry County Annex, 507 A West Main in Brownfield. Early voting will begin Monday, April 22, 2024, through Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Election Day is Saturday, May 4, 2024
