What you need to know about May 6 elections for Amarillo, schools and more

Early voting for the Amarillo muncipal elections, as well as school district and college boards, begins Monday in Potter and Randall counties. Early voting runs through Tuesday, May 2, with Election Day on Saturday, May 6.

Leading the election races with 23 total candidates are the open positions for the mayor of Amarillo and the Amarillo City Council.

Here's a look at what's on the ballot for area residents:

Amarillo mayor, city council

Of the 23 candidates who filed for election, only candidate Don Collins submitted a petition of over 100 registered voter signatures in lieu of the $100 filing fee, as previously reported. In the mayoral race, six candidates are now running for the city's top office. Of those mayor candidates, two are currently serving as councilmembers, Cole Stanley and Freda Powell. All councilmember positions, much like the mayor, are voted at large, so each councilmember place does not represent a particular city district. The most contested race of the upcoming Amarillo city elections will be for councilmember Place 1, which will have its most candidates in history with seven people running for office.

Mayor candidates

The candidates are listed in the order below as they were drawn for their positions to appear on the ballot:

Tonya Winston, a commercial truck driver

More: As mayor, Winston's top priorities would be crime and safety, addressing disparities

Don Collins, retiree and seniors advocate

More: Don Collins seeks to restore focus to the city, with seniors no longer an afterthought

Sam Burnett, president of the Amarillo Area Transgender Advocacy Group

More: Burnett aims to give voice to all Amarillo citizens in run for mayor

Jeffrey McGunegle, a former Amarillo ISD teacher and life/consciousness coach

More: Jeffrey McGunegle: Position of Amarillo mayor is a calling

Cole Stanley, current councilmember Place 1 and business owner

More: As developer, Cole Stanley wants to change bidding process, tackle panhandling issue

Freda Powell, current councilmember Place 2 and office manager

More: After three terms on council, Freda Powell hopes to continue to serve city as mayor

Place 1 council

Candidates for Place 1 include Margie Gonzales, an associate pastor at Vida Church and Chaplain at Heal the City; Dean Crump, business owner; Sherie Wood, a worker for Amazon; Kelsey Richardson, a claims analyst; Josh Craft, a firefighter and business owner; and Chip Hunt, business owner.

More: Margie Gonzales wants to be a voice for the average citizen

More: Josh Craft hopes to bring public service perspective, restore trust in city council

More: Council candidate Chip Hunt learned to make ends meet, has had versatile mix of jobs

More: Sherie Wood says prayer, reflection led her to run for city council

More: From business to blessings, Dean Crump wants to work for people, 'city I call my home'

More: Place 1 candidate Kelsey Richardson wants to be a voice for the voiceless in the city

Place 2 council

Candidates for Place 2 include Don Tipps, an insurance agent; Misty Vigil, of AISD; and Gabriel McHenry-Herrera, a commercial teller.

More: Don Tipps wants to use his experience in insurance to have tough conversations for city

More: Candidate Gabriel McHenry-Herrera wants to represent working class, younger citizens

More: Misty Vigil wants to make education an Amarillo priority

Place 3 council

Candidates for Place 3 include Katt Massey, a former Beautification and Public Arts Coordinator for Amarillo and a member of the Hoodoo Mural Festival Board; John Adair, retired; and Tom Scherlen, a retired businessman and president of the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association.

More: Candidate John Adair wants to look out for city's best interests

More: Council candidate Katt Massey served city in various roles, aims to improve communication

More: Tom Scherlen wants to bring a business mindset to city council

Place 4 council

Candidates for Place 4 include Les Simpson, business owner and former publisher of the Amarillo Globe-News; Claudette Smith, business owner; John Ingerson, retired, former chairman of Amarillo Parks and Recreation Board; and Hobert “Gunny” Brown, a retired Marine and current federal employee.

More: With parks board, candidate John Ingerson has learned how city government operates

More: Council candidate Les Simpson says conservative philosophies, city's core needs are key

More: City council candidate Hobert 'Gunny' Brown hopes to 'bring people to the table'

More: Council candidate Claudette Smith points to business experience, dealing with city issues

AC Board of Regents

In the Amarillo College Board of Regents' election, the board has three positions available for this spring. On the ballot are incumbents Jay Barrett, who serves as the principal at AmTech Career Academy and is also the Vice Chairman of AC's board; and Michele Fortunato, a former attorney at Brown & Fortunato. Sally Jennings has chosen not to run for re-election.

Including Barrett and Fortunato, six candidates have filed to run for the open positions, including Mike Yazbek, an independent consultant; Jason Foglesong, an Amarillo High School teacher; Irene Hughes, a retired/former AC advising associate; and Brady Clark, the executive director for Square Mile Community Development.

Stephanie Peña, major gifts officer at the Amarillo Area Foundation, filed to run for the board, but officially submitted her withdrawal for candidacy in February.

In school districts, most of the area board races are at large, with the top vote-getters filling the available spots on the board.

Amarillo ISD

For the Amarillo Independent School District, this year’s election has three board members up for election, so each voter will have three votes to cast in the manner they choose. Seats held by incumbents Kimberly Anderson, Dick Ford and Alonzo Everhart are up for election, with Everhart being the only candidate not running for reelection.

The following seven candidates are on the Amarillo ISD board ballot:

• Kimberly Anderson

• Jon Mark Beilue

• Connie Brown

• Ryan Patrick Brown

• Dick Ford

• Robin Leeah

• Steve Trafton

Canyon ISD

While the Canyon ISD board election has designated places, all positions are at large and can be voted on by every member of the district. For the upcoming election, three positions were originally up for election, but the retirement of Randy Darnell, whose term was not set to expire until 2025, made his seat available for the May 6 election.

Linda Hinders, who represents Place 7, chose not to seek reelection. Hinders has served on the board since being appointed in 2006.

The special election winner of Place 1, Paul Blake, did not have a challenger file for his seat, so he will not have to face an election challenge. Kathern Wiegand, who has served on the board since 2011, is the only incumbent who will face a challenge, from Jodi Davis, in the May 6 election for Place 2.

All winners apart from Place 3 will serve four-year terms. Place 3 will only serve a two-year term since the seat was open due to the retirement of Darnell and is considered a special election. On the ballot for Canyon ISD Place 3 are Casey Posey, Jared Wirt, Claudia Burkett and Josh Grisham.

Candidates for Place 7 include Laurie Gilliland, Tiffany Rogers and Derrick Thomas.

City of Canyon

The municipal election for the city of Canyon was cancelled after all current council members ran unopposed for their positions.

Bushland ISD

The election for Bushland ISD Board uses an at-large system similar to the cumulative voting system used by Amarillo ISD and Amarillo College, though voters may not give multiple votes to a single candidate. Three positions are up for election, and Eddie Fuentes and Brad Spinks are running for re-election.

With 11 total candidates running including the two incumbents, voters will also choose among nine challengers, Jerry Billington, Derek Cotgreave, Jessica Garrett, Steve Hill, Melissa Huffman, Nicki Junell, Chris Limbaugh, Laura Stepp and Ken Stewart.

River Road ISD

River Road ISD canceled its election after the three candidates were running unopposed, Butch Dawson, Copen Smith and Lori Peterson.

Highland Park ISD

In Highland Park ISD, voters will select at least one new member of the district’s board. Incumbents Cindy Spanel and Jennifer Sanchez are seeking reelection, and challengers April Ferguson and Jessie Campolla are on the ballot.

The board has faced some difficult decisions recently due to the district's financial struggles, including a vote for a reduction in force and to possibly eliminate the district's middle school and high school theatre arts program.

Highland Park ISD has a bond election on the ballot.

Proposition 1 for $129 million would go toward "the construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school facilities in the District (including, but not limited to, improvements to enhance safety and security), including the acquisition of land therefor and the purchase of school buses and vehicles." This includes the Career & Technology Information Center, an elementary school campus with child care option, softball and baseball fields, school park/soccer field, roadways, utilities and infrastructure for new construction, school safety measures and transportation needs.

Proposition 2 for $1 million would go "for the purpose of acquiring and updating instructional technology equipment."

The district notes roughly 97% of all payments would be from commercial and industrial property, business and oil & gas. If the proposed bond passes, the total tax rate would be one cent higher than 2018. Before the bond, an Maintenance & Operations (M&O) rate of .8766 has an Interest & Sinking (I&S) rate of .1101 and a total tax rate of $0.9867. The bond would have the same M&O rate, with an increase of an I&S rate of .32 and total tax rate of $1.1966.

For a home valued at $50,000, the annual increase would be about $20.99 with a monthly increase of $1.75. The tax rate impact would be $0.2099.

There would be no tax increase on homesteads for those having an age 65 or disabled exemption. For information on how to apply, contact the Potter County Appraisal District at 806-358-1601 or visit www.prad.org.

Important dates, more information

Non-partisan voter guides by the The League of Women Voters of Amarillo are available at various locations around the area and online at Vote411.org. For more information about the organization, contact the Amarillo LWV at 806-337-2148 or amarillolwv@gmail.com. The last day to register to vote was April 6, and the last day to apply for ballot by mail is Tuesday, April 25.

Early voting runs from Monday, April 24 through Tuesday, May 2.

The last day to receive a ballot by mail is Saturday, May 6 (Election Day) at 7 p.m. if carrier envelope is not postmarked, or Monday, May 8 (next business day after Election Day) at 5 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at the location of the election on Election Day (unless overseas or military voter deadlines apply).

Early voting locations

Amarillo LWV reminds of early voting locations for Potter and Randall counties:

Potter County

• Santa Fe Building (Main), First Floor, Ticket Office - 900 S. Polk St.; April 24-28 (Monday-Friday), 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1 and May 2 (Monday and Tuesday), 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Casey Carpet One, Main Entrance - 3500 I-40 West Frontage Rd.; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Tri-State Fairgrounds, Commercial Exhibit Hall - 3301 SE 10th Ave.; Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Cornerstone Outreach, Fellowship Rm - 1111 N. Buchanan St.; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Northwest Branch Amarillo Public Library, Meeting Room - 6100 SW 9th Ave.; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Randall County

• Randall County Election Administration Office (Main), 1604 5th Ave., Canyon; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Randall County Annex, 4320 S. Western, Amarillo; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Comanche Trail Church of Christ, 2700 E. 34th, Amarillo; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Randall County Justice Center, 2309 Russell Long Blvd., Canyon; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; May 1-2, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Southwest Branch Library will not be a place for early voting, as previously printed.

For an FAQ on election requirements and early voting from the Texas Secretary of State, visit https://www.votetexas.gov/faq/early-voting.html .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: What you need to know about May 6 elections for Amarillo, schools and more