Filing for the May city election began in earnest Wednesday, with six candidates filing.
Two residents filed for each of the three contested races.
Two-term Place 4 Councilman Weldon Hurt entered the mayor’s race and drew opposition from Ryan Goodwin. Both followed through with previously announced intentions to run for council.
With Hurt vacating Place 4, two more residents who in late 2022 spoke to their intentions to run, Scott Beard and Brian Yates, filed for that seat.
Place 3, currently held by two-term Councilwoman Donna Albus, drew first-time candidate Shawnte Fleming and James Sargent, who ran unsuccessfully for Place 5 on the council last spring.
Albus confirmed to the Reporter-News on Wednesday that she is not seeking re-election.
Beard, who pastors Fountaingate Fellowship, was a leader of the effort to make Abilene a “sanctuary city for the unborn.” After a successful petition drive, a proposed ordinance went before voters in November. It passed with 53% of the vote. As a candidate, Sargent cast his support for passage of the ordinance.
Fleming heads the local group Let Us Breathe. She earlier had expressed her desire to run for council.
If elected, Fleming would be the first Black woman to serve on the council, which currently has two Black members – Mayor Anthony Williams and Councilman Travis Craver.
Wednesday’s filings assure contested races for all city offices and at least two new members.
Filing continues through Feb. 17 with three of the seven seats on the…
