Published: May 07, 2009 11:54 pm      

Mayor, two council seats up for grabs in Palestine on Saturday

With city elections a day away, local election officials are preparing for Saturday’s 12 hours of voting.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday around the state for city and school elections.

Palestine voters will be choosing a mayor among two-term incumbent Mayor Dr. Carolyn Salter and challengers Dan Bochsler and Bob Herrington. In District 2, incumbent city councilman Vernon Denmon Jr. faces a challenge from retired teacher Julie Abston, while in District 6, incumbent city councilman Steve Presley is challenged by restaurant owner Sam Aryanpur.

In District 4, incumbent councilman Jim Yelverton is unopposed.

The three contested races drew 632 voters to the polls during early voting, according to Palestine City Secretary Janelle Williams.

In the City of Elkhart, only 22 voters cast ballots during the early voting period, according to City Secretary Margie Crawford.

Only the Place 4 city council race is contested there, with a pair of newcomers — Karen Bridges and Ed Wagner — vying for the seat currently held by Raymond Dunlap.

Dunlap filed his candidacy for Mayor of Elkhart. Current Mayor Joe Burris did not seek re-election, and Dunlap is unopposed for the position.

In Place 2, incumbent councilman William Cargill is unopposed.

The polls will be open at the Log Cabin Building, 309 W. Parker St., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, with voting for the city election at one end and polls for the Elkhart ISD bond election set up at the other end.

In the City of Frankston, none of the incumbents on the Frankston City Council drew opposition but voters still will have something to decide — whether to reauthorize the 1/4 cent sales tax for city street repair and maintenance.

City council members unopposed on the ballot are Place 2 councilman Eugene Brooks, Place 4 councilman Johnnie Simmons and Place 6 councilman Darryl Dollarhide.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Anderson County Courthouse Annex Building on the square in Frankston. 

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com