By Michael V. Hannigan
While the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) gears up for an election cycle, the City of Athens and Athens ISD will likely get to cancel their elections.
Filing for the May 7 municipal elections closed Friday with both the City and the school district adding new members, but no contested races.
Athens ISD has three seats available, and filing are incumbents Eric Smith and Bob Spears. Also signed up is Renda Garner, who will replace incumbent David Freeman, who chose not to seek reelection.
At City Hall, which also has three seats open, incumbents Tres Winn and Joe Whatley signed up as well as newcomer Ed McCain. McCain will take the seat vacated by Charles Elliott, who chose not to run again.
Unless someone files as a write-in candidate by the end of Tuesday, both the City and the school district will cancel their May 7 elections and those who signed up will take the open seats.
At AMWA, five candidates signed up for three positions. Those filing, in alphabetical order, are:
– Milburn Chaney
– Donald A. Foster (I)
– Frank Lunceford
– Stephen R. Sparkman (I)
– David Thomas (I)
Early voting in municipal elections begins April 25.