Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Filing for city council and school board trustee seats is underway with only one newcomer tossing their hat into the ring so far.

Groves

Four seats are up in Groves and include those of Mayor Brad Bailey, City Marshal Norman Reynolds Jr., Ward 2 Karen Theis and Ward 4 Kyle Hollier.

Bailey has opted not to run for reelection to the mayor’s seat and two current councilmembers, Karen Theis and Chris Borne, are running for the spot.

Hollier has filed for reelection and did not have an opponent as of Friday morning.

Reynolds filed for reelection and is being challenged by Tommy Smith.

Applications to file for the council seats, mayor’s seat or city marshal are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday through Aug. 17 at Groves City Hall, 3947 Lincoln Ave.

Because of COVID-19 safeguards, interested persons can pick up the application at the drive-through window.

There is a $25 filing fee. For more information, call 960-5773.

Terms are for two years.

Port Neches

A bit of a change-up is coming to Port Neches as well, as the Place 5 seat holder Julie Gauthier will not run for reelection.

“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Port Neches for the last 10 years, and I believe it is time to step out of the way and let some new citizens serve our city as a council member,” Gauthier said.

Place 3 Councilmember John Davenport has filed for reelection and Terry Schwertner has filed for the Place 5 seat.

Candidate packets can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at Port Neches City Hall through the city secretary’s office, 1005 Merriman St.

There is a $100 filing fee or in lieu of filing fee, a petition signed by a minimum of 25 qualified voters from the city. For more information, call the city secretary’s office at 727-2182.

Terms are for three years.

PNGISD

In PNGISD, the Place 6 seat held by Rusty Brittain and the Place 7 seat held by Jake Lefort are up for election and both incumbents have filed for run again.

Applications to file for a seat on the school board can be found online at pngisd.org.

Applications can be picked up from Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the administration building, 620 Ave. C, in Port Neches. For more information, contact Cheryl Jourdan at 409-722-4244, extension 1722.

Terms are for three years.

Important election dates

• Filing dates — July 20 to Aug. 17
• Last day to register to vote in the November election — Oct. 5
• First day of early voting — Oct. 19
• Last day of early voting — Oct. 30
• Election Day — Nov. 3