The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

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July 29, 2010

HISD calls board election

By Mary Rainwater Staff Reporter

HUNTSVILLE — Huntsville Independent School District trustees formally approved an order calling its regular board of trustees election on its new Nov. 2 election date during a meeting Tuesday night.

The new election date — moved from May to November — is the result of a change made by City of Huntsville voters last fall in the general election date as well as state laws regulating school board elections.

“State law requires us to partner with the city or the county on general elections,” HISD Superintendent Dr. Richard Montgomery told the board. “In the past, the city had its election in May and the county in November, so we partnered with the city in May.”

Huntsville voters approved City Charter Amendment 1 in November 2009, which moved the regular city general elections from the uniform election date in May to the uniform election date in November.

That change was effective Jan. 1, 2010.

“What this does is extends everyone’s term six months,” Montgomery said previously. “So those whose terms expire in May of 2010 will remain in their seats until November of 2010.

“We kind of have no choice on this,” he said. “We have to partner with another municipality on elections.”

The election order also announced the expiring seats of Positions 1, 2 and 3 on the board, currently held by trustees Riley Tilley, Rissie Owens and David Standlee, respectively.

According to HISD election clerk Carol Brown, three candidates have signed up for those spots this week — new candidate Tracy Stoudt for Position 1, Owens for Position 2 and new candidate J.T. Langley for Position 3.

Candidate sign-ups for the HISD board election began Monday and continue through Aug. 24. Packets can be picked up at the HISD Hawkins Administration Building on FM 2821 East during regular office hours.

Early voting for the Nov. 2 election will take place weekdays from Monday, Oct. 18 through Friday, Oct. 29 at the Walker County Courthouse Annex. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Oct. 18 to 22 and from Oct. 27 to 29; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 25-26.

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