Two in race for Texas-side Ward 5 City Council seat

Texarkana, Texas, City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd., is shown in December 2015.
Texarkana, Texas, City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd., is shown in December 2015.

The candidates in two of the three Texarkana, Texas, City Council races this year will run unopposed.

By the 5 p.m. Monday deadline, only one candidate each for the Ward 2 and Ward 3 elections filed to be on the November ballot. Two people will contend for the Ward 5 seat.

Mary Hart will run to succeed Councilmember Willie Ray representing Ward 2. Hart is a retiree who has been active as a local election official, serving as a deputy voter registrar and chairwoman of precinct 2C.

Ray has served on the council for 20 years and earlier this year said she was undecided about trying for another term. She did not file to run for re-election.

Councilmember Betty Williams, a retired teacher, is seeking election in Ward 3. The council appointed her to the seat in January to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Tina Veal-Gooch.

Van Alexander and Bill Harp filed to be on the ballot in the Ward 5 election. They hope to follow Councilmember Christy Paddock, who has said she is stepping down to spend more time with her children.

Alexander is owner of Alexander's Jewelers and has represented Ward 5 on the council before. Harp is director of school services for Pleasant Grove Independent School District and former principal at Pleasant Grove High School.

Election Day is Nov. 7. Texas-side residents will also vote on each of nine proposed amendments to the city charter.

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