Elgin, area towns to decide city government, school board races

Voters in Elgin will have a full slate Tuesday, as they decide on a mayor and settle a proposal to create a hotel-motel tax.

The votes are among multiple city government and school board elections that are to be decided by residents across the region, with a few funding propositions also on the ballot.

In Elgin, the City Council decided earlier this year to submit to voters a proposal for a 7 percent tax on the rental of hotel and motel rooms, something Mayor JJ Francais has said would allow Elgin to create an incentive fund that could be used to recruit a developer to build a hotel in the city.

Under the proposal, the entire tax would be deposited into the city’s General Fund, with half then transferred to the Elgin Economic Development Authority. Under the ballot proposition, all funds would be restricted to public infrastructure projects and for the purpose of encouraging, promoting and fostering economic development and business development. Francais has said those funds could provide a developer incentive, while revenues in the General Fund would pay for public infrastructure projects.

Francais also will be on the ballot Tuesday, as he faces two challengers for his mayor’s seat: Hannah Anderson Vaughn and Holly Martinez. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Eight other races in Comanche County also will be on the ballot Tuesday. They include:

Cache: Mayor: Todd Mansel, Scott Brown.

Chattanooga: Board of trustees: Ricky Strecker, David R. Robbins.

Fletcher: Board of trustees (vote for two): Travis Smith, Douglas Stamper, Dick Herrin.

Sterling: Board of trustees (vote for two): Gwyn Milam-Smith, Garrett Lawson, Pennie Wolfe.

Sterling Public Schools: Office 5: Chris Hale, John Hergenrether.

Cement Public Schools: Office 5: Christina Seymour, Patrick J. Nolan.

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center: Office 5: Lance Shenold, Patrick Michael Hayes.

Empire Public Schools: Office 5: Jacob W. Hankins, J.T. Whatley.

Other elections in the Southwest Oklahoma region include:

CADDO COUNTY

Carnegie: Board of trustees (vote for two): Cody Dupler, Sandy Settle, Lynda See, Jana Mariscal.

Cement: Board of trustees (vote for three): Mary Jackson, Sherry Prather, Linda Kawa, Eva Larson.

Cement Public Schools: Office 5: Christina Seymour, Patrick J. Nolan.

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center: Office 5: Lance Shenold, Patrick Michael Hayes.

COTTON COUNTY

Temple Public Schools: Office 5: Tonya Daniel, Micaela Ledford.

Empire Public Schools: Office 5: Jacob W. Hankins, J.T. Whatley.

GRADY COUNTY

Cement Public Schools: Office 5: Christina Seymour, Patrick J. Nolan.

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center: Office 5: Lance Shenold, Patrick Michael Hayes.

Sterling Public Schools: Office 5: Chris Hale, John Hergenrether.

Rush Springs: Board of trustees (pick two): Janice Strange, Cody Sweat, Phillip Moreno.

Rush Springs Public Schools: Office 5: Lance Melton, Brittany McWilliams.

Marlow Public Schools: Office 5: Karmen Farmer, David Harris.

Voters countywide also will decide whether to renew the existing one-eighth percent tax now charged to support senior citizen activities and programs.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Temple Public Schools: Office 5: Tonya Daniel, Micaela Ledford.

Waurika Public Schools: Office 5: Katy Warren-Barnett, Lori Jenkins.

KIOWA COUNTY

Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center: Office 5: Lance Shenold, Patrick Michael Hayes.

Mountain View: Board of trustees (unexpired term): Susian York, Kallen Frank, Larry Cozadd; board of trustees (vote for three): Desirai Holsted, Jeremy Hooper, Maranda Bostik, Lyndon Hooper.

STEPHENS COUNTY

Southern Technology Center: Office 2: Jack Jones, David Leu.

Sterling Public Schools: Office 5: Chris Hale, John Hergenrether.

Comanche: Council member Ward 2: Michael Moore, Dennis McQuinn. Council member Ward 3 (unexpired term): Michael Shuey, Dylan Savage.

Duncan: Council member Ward 3: Austin Peters, David Leonard.

Marlow Public Schools: Office 5: Karmen Farmer, David Harris.

TILLMAN COUNTY

Chattanooga: Board of trustees: Ricky Strecker, David R. Robbins.

Frederick Public Schools Office 5: Shea Woodall, James Heap.

Grandfield: Council member Ward 1: Jeremy Wood, Clara Baker.

Tipton: Board of trustees Office 1 (unexpired): Charles Roberts, Danny Rhodes.

Tipton Public Schools: Office 5: Ken Waugh, Jerry Stoll.

In Frederick, voters will decide whether to repeal a long-time one-percent city sales tax designated to the Frederick Hospital Authority. That city tax already has been replaced by a countywide one-percent tax set to begin April 1.