Fields Set for Dallas, Hiram Elections

Both the cities of Dallas and Hiram will see contested races in the Nov. 8 general election, but some voters will have fewer choices to make once they receive their ballot.

Hiram was the only city to report new candidates after Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline to qualify. According to a list provided by City Clerk Terri Graham, one of those candidates was Helena Williams, who will seek re-election to her Post 2 council seat. She is being challenged by Kathy Bookout, who qualified Monday.

The city’s Post 1 council seat drew three contenders after the office had no one seeking it after the first two days of qualifying. Vying for the seat will be Stephen S. Bray, Prather “Pep” Rollins and George D.D. Turner. The winner will succeed Alvin Sims, after the original Post 1 councilman, Jack Paris, was appointed interim mayor.

After serving the remainder of Carmen Rollins’ mayor term—, with —Paris will get to serve his own four-year term as mayor starting in January as he remained the only candidate seeking the office as qualifying closed Wednesday.

Paris’ counterpart in Dallas won’t have such an easy path to another term, as Boyd Austin Jr. is being challenged by Marvin Tingler.

Also to be contended for is Dallas’ Ward 4 council seat, which will have Jim Henson and Brian Ragsdale competing for the office. The seat is currently held by Frank “Bingo” McTyre.

While McTyre did not seek another term, two of his peers on the council did but will not face opposition. Mike Cason and James Kelly were the only ones to qualify for their Ward 2 and at-large council seats, respectively.

Dallas’ races were unchanged at day’s end Wednesday, making Monday the only day the city saw candidates qualify for office.

The list of candidates as provided to Dallas-Hiram Patch is below (with Wednesday’s additions bolded).

Dallas

Mayor: Boyd Austin Jr. (Incumbent), Marvin Tingler

Councilmember, Ward 2: Mike Cason (I)

Councilmember, Ward 4: Jim Henson, Brian Ragsdale

Councilmember at Large: James Kelly (I)

Hiram

Mayor: Jack Paris (Incumbent—serving as interim mayor)

Councilmember, Post 1: Stephen S. Bray, Prather “Pep” Rollins, George D.D. Turner

Councilmember, Post 2: Kathy Bookout, Helena Williams (I)