In the spring 2021 municipal election, the Cordell City Council will see at least one new face get elected.
The council will have five of its eight seats face election, along with the city clerk. At its December meeting, the city council set notice that the candidate filing period will be Feb. 1-3 for the election.
James Newman, who took over the Ward 3 seat vacated by Joseph Boecker in April 2019, said he won’t seek re-election, though he left the door open for a future bid.
“While I have enjoyed the experience for the most part, my job keeps me busy and I cannot put in the time this really needs,” Newman said. “I also feel that others should take up the opportunity to be a part of the council and see how the city runs and wuse their experience and expertise to better our city. I feel there should always be fresh voices rotating through the council.”
Newman’s counterpart in Ward 3, Buddy Holman, who was appointed in February of 2020, said he will file.
He was approached and asked to be on the council last year, he said.
He now has a chance to get elected through the normal process.
“I want to make Cordell great again. I think we got some good things going, good people serving,” he said. “I look forward to getting our town back to where it needs to be.”
Vicky Dunlap, who represents one of the two seats in Ward 1, has served on the council since 2008. If reelected, she will begin her fourth term as a councilwoman.
“I lived here all my life. I love Cordell,” she said. “I just want to work for the people. I enjoy it. I want to keep doing for my city like I have.”
Councilwoman Earlene Smith said she plans to run again and seek another term representing Ward 2.
“I like helping the citizens of Cordell,” she said.
Vona Hicks, who represents one of the two seats in Ward 4, hasn’t decided whether she’ll file for re-election for a second term, she said.
The first-term councilwoman said her time on the council has been good.
“I enjoy serving the community,” she said. “That I enjoy.”
City clerk Christie Cherry also faces re-election. She said she will run again.
“I’m familiar with what it involves, and I work for the city as code enforcement anyway which makes it convenient to sign papers, type minutes, file resolutions and ordinances,” she said.