May 6 elections in cities in Houston’s Bay Area include a race for mayor in Dickinson and contests for council positions in that city, Friendswood and Kemah.
No contested races occurred in Webster, El Lago, Clear Lake Shores and Taylor Lake Village. In such situations, cities can cancel the election, and most follow that path.
Advance voting will be 4-28. April and 1-2 May.
Dickinson
The mayoralty and three council seats are up for election in Dickinson.
Incumbent Mayor Sean Skipworth is opposed by builder Kevin Edmonds.
The previous race for that seat drew wide attention when Skipworth won through a random drawing of names from a hat on 7 January 2021 after he and Jennifer Lawrence each received 1,010 votes in a runoff. Skipworth won when a ping pong ball bearing his name was chosen.
The race for Position 5 on the City Council initially appeared to be a three-way battle, but Edmonds withdrew his candidacy for that seat when he decided to run for mayor, leaving the race between John Ovalle, a retired firefighter, and Bill Schick, who is also retired. The incumbent, Louis Decker, is not seeking re-election.
In position 1, incumbent Johnnie Simpson Jr. against the authorized auditor Nita Clements.
Position 3 is Collin Coker, who is self-employed, and Mark Townsend. Incumbent Walt Wilson is not seeking re-election.
In Dickinson, council seats have three-year terms.
Clear Lake Shores
In Clear Lake Shores, Mayor Pro Tem Randy Chronister was the only candidate for mayor. Mayor Kurt Otten did not run for re-election.
Ed Waters, who is in the construction business, and Jeff Terrell, a pilot, are running unopposed for two-year council positions.
The incumbents Monica Ledet and Steve Wirtes did not seek re-election.
Friendswood
Joseph Matranga, a retiree, and homebuilder Adam Hill are running for Friendswood City Council Position 5. Incumbent John Scott did not run for re-election.
Position 2 incumbent Sally Harris Branson has no challengers and will retain her seat.
Seats on the Friendswood City Council have a three-year term.
Kemah
Kemah Position 4 Councilwoman Robin Collins is the only candidate for mayor in that city. Mayor Carl Joiner did not stand for re-election.
Sheila Thorne and Justin Staton are vying for Collins’ Place 5 seat.
Peyton Lumpkin also filed for candidacy, but subsequently withdrew from the race.
Position 2 incumbent Darren Broadus drew no opposition in his re-election bid.
Election periods for members of the city council are for two years.
El Lago
El Lago Mayor Shawn Finley, Position 1 Councilman Charles Parrette and Position 2 Councilman Jeff Michalak will seek new terms after drawing no opposition in their re-election bids.
El Lago city council terms are for two years.
Taylor Lake Village
Taylor Lake Village Mayor Jon Keeney, Position 2 Councilman Jon Powell and Position 4 Councilman Einar Goerland drew no challengers in their two-year re-election bids.
Webster
Webster Mayor Donna Rogers and Martin Graves, who holds Position 6 on the council, both drew no challengers in their re-election bids.
John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at [email protected]
