Sulphur City Council and school board candidates in two local districts are making their final pitches to voters as Tuesday’s election approaches.
In Sulphur, five city council candidates, four men and one woman, are vying for seats in Ward 3 and Ward 5.
In Davis, a man and woman are campaigning for the Office No. 4 school board seat and two men are on the ballot for SouthernTech’s Office No. 1 seat.
It will all be decided on Tuesday, April 2 as voters head to the polls to cast their ballots.
Sulphur City Council candidates have been actively campaigning and battle lines have been drawn in the last several weeks as the run-up to the city election will come to a head Tuesday.
Ward 3 incumbent, Darrell Cole, a retired Sulphur teacher and coach, is being opposed by former Sulphur Fire Chief, Gary Tingle. In Ward 5, incumbent Daniel Gordon is being opposed by former Sulphur council member and CPA, Robert Clark, along with business clerk, Crystal Brewer Whitfield.
Cole will be going for his third term on the Sulphur City Council after filing unopposed in the last two elections. For Tingle, it is his first step into the political arena.
Like Cole, it will be Gordon’s first election challenge. He won his first seat in 2022 after filing unopposed. One of his opponents, Clark, is a recent member of the Sulphur City council, while this will be Whitfield’s first political foray.
Statements and the candidates’ position on various issues have been made in advertisements this week and in previous issues of the Times-Democrat.
A third city council seat was determined last month after retired Sulphur fireman, Alan McKay, won his Ward 1 seat, filing unopposed. He also beat back a recall effort late last year to solidify his position on that body.
According to the Sulphur City Charter, all candidates seeking office will be voted upon by all the voters within the city limits, but the individual must reside in the ward for which they are seeking. The term for each Sulphur council seat is for two years and the election is non-partisan.
In Davis, Robert Bubba Bolding and Neeley Nicole Barnett will be in the hunt for the school board seat there while Brian McDaniel and Zack Gadberry are vying for a position on the SouthernTech board.
Early Voting Begins Thursday, March 28
Early voting begins Thursday March 28 for voters in Murray County. Those who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at the Murray County Expo Center.
Murray County Election Board Secretary Rhonda Summers said early voting is open to all voters. “You do not need to provide an excuse to vote early. Oklahoma allows early voting for all elections conducted by the County Election Board or State Election Board—from school board and municipal elections to state and federal elections. This is a great option for those who will be out of town on Election Day or who want to avoid long lines,” Summers said.
Early voting is available Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Murray County Expo Center located at 3490 S.H. 7. Summers reminds voters that early voting is not available at polling locations.
Some voters may need assistance to vote because they are blind or visually disabled, physically disabled or infirmed, or illiterate. Such individuals may request to have an assistant or vote privately and independently using the ATI device attached to the voting device. Those who require assistance should talk to their precinct official or contact the County Election Board directly for instructions.
Election Day Reminders And Tips
Voters will head to the polls on April 2 for the Davis Board of Education, SOTC Board of Education, and Sulphur Municipal Election. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Murray County Election Board Secretary Rhonda Summers recommends voters with questions about their eligibility or polling place call before Election Day. “We provide a number of additional services to voters on Election Day, so it can get very busy. If you have any questions, we strongly suggest you call or come by the week before Election Day if possible. If you find that you do have a question on Election Day, however, don’t hesitate to call.”
Summers says the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal is the easiest way for voters to verify their registration, locate their polling place, and view a sample ballot. The OK Voter Portal can be found at oklahoma. gov/elections/ovp.
The County Election Board reminds voters to bring a current federal or Oklahoma state-issued photo ID, or federally-recognized tribal ID to their polling place. An official Voter Identification Card can also be used as proof of identity. If you forget your ID, you may still cast a provisional ballot by signing an affidavit. Provisional ballots will be verified and if valid, will be counted after Election Day and before the election is certified.
For questions, contact the Murray County Election Board at 580-622-3800. The County Election Board is located at 703 W 11th St., Sulphur. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Deadline To Change Party Affiliation Approaches
Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, Murray County Election Board Secretary Rhonda Summers said today. Voters may change their party affiliation online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or by completing a new Voter Registration Application.
Summers reminds voters that no party changes are allowed from April 1 through August 31 during an even-numbered year.
“If we receive your request after March 31, we are required by law to hold that request and process it in September,” Summers said.
Oklahoma has three recognized parties: Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian.
In Oklahoma, voters must be a registered member of a party in order to vote in that party’s primary election. Independents are permitted to participate in a primary election, only if a party officially requests its elections be opened to Independent voters. Currently, only the Democratic Party allows Independents to vote in its primary elections.
All registered voters, regardless of political affiliation, can vote for any candidate during a General Election.
Voter Registration Applications can be downloaded from the State Election Board website at oklahoma.gov/elections. Applications are also available at the Murray County Election Board located at 703 W. 11th, Sulphur. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions, contact the County Election Board at 580-622-3800
