The Collin County Observer™

Local election season is in full swing with early voting beginning on Monday.

There are close to 100 candidates in Collin County vying for positions on city councils, school boards and a utility district. The Plano and Princeton school districts have school construction bond propositions on the ballot, and Princeton's voters also get a re-do of a hotly debated ballot measure to grant themselves a home rule charter.

While many races are opposed, a few have garnered widespread interest, and turnout is expected to be low.

Probably the most publicized race features a contest in east Plano between Pat Minor, recently the Plano Homeowners Council President and long-time community activist, and Justin Nichols, the young Collin County Teen Court manager. Nichols has received a lot of press in recent weeks after a Dallas paper ran a story about a young, gay man running for Plano city council. After the news story was published, Nichols had to fight to protect his county job. This race could be a close one.

Plano citizens will see the largest slate of election races. There are 4 City Council seats up for grabs, three of them held by incumbents. The Plano ISD races feature two contested positions and a $490 million bond proposition. Economic issues will be at the forefront - in a down-turn economy, the city is battling a projected budget shortfall, while the school district needs new school construction funding.

The most bizarre race has to be in Murphy. There, Mayor Brett Baldwin is running for re-election opposed by Craig Sherwood, the city's former City Manager. Sherwood resigned last year (most believe under pressure from the newly elected City Council) in the wake of widespread criticism over his inviting NBC Nightline's "To Catch a Predator" show to Murphy. The last episode should have been titled, "The fiasco in Murphy".

Mr. Sherwood was paid over $300,000 in severance pay to go away quietly, but he's back - and it's a grudge match.

Murphy politics has been volatile for several years. In the last election, supporters of Mayor Baldwin ousted the "old guard" and for the first time, gained a majority vote on the council. It's no surprise that this year every council race is opposed, and that every incumbent up for re-election has to campaign to keep their job.

Wylie citizens will have the opportunity to choose in every City Council and School Board position, up for re-election. All three incumbent council members, and all three incumbent school board trustees drew opponents. Mayor John Mondy faces stiff opposition from former councilman Eric Hogue.

The Wylie school board trustees drew criticism this year when they voted to fill a vacancy on the board with an ex-trustee, D. Baron Cook, who came under fire a few years ago for conflicts of interest allegations regarding land deals with the school district. Mr. Cook now is running for the unexpired term against Lance Goff who failed in a bid for a trustee's seat in the last election. Confusion and implementation issues over new school regulations of "standard dress code" has also caused the board to have to fight for re-election.

Allen voters will be able to choose between candidates in three contested City council slots and 2 Allen ISD trustee positions. Frisco citizens will also choose three council members and two school board trustees, while voters in the Seis Lagos Utility district will choose two "directors" in a round robin contest between 6 candidates.

All of the county's city and school board incumbents and candidates are campaigning to gain your trust in them so that they can serve their communities. All these positions are largely unpaid, and those who win face 2 to 4 years of generally thankless volunteer service. I applaud them, and urge you to respect their commitment by voting.

Early voting begins Monday and runs through Tuesday, May 6; early voting locations and sample ballots are here.

Election day is Saturday, May 10. Election day voting locations are here.

A complete list (I hope) of contested races is displayed below.

Bill