Published: March 06, 2009 03:53 pm      

Voter registration deadline a week away

It’s exactly one week before time runs out for residents in five area communities, including Pauls Valley, to get their voter registrations in order for a municipal election early next month.

The actual date is Friday, March 13 as election officials in Garvin County continue working toward the actual vote on April 7.

On the election menu that day next month will be city council and board of trustee posts in Pauls Valley, Paoli, Maysville, Elmore City and Stratford.

Those needing to get registered or make a change in their voter registrations must fill out a form before the next week’s deadline. Those forms are available at the Garvin County Election Board office in the county courthouse in PV, most tag agencies or online at www.elections.state.ok.us/.

When the election rolls around Pauls Valley voters will mark their ballots for two local city council races.

One of those races has Mayor Tim Gamble going up against challengers Kevin Stark and Jerry Suggs.

Councilman Gary Alfred is also seeking a new five-year term as he is set to be challenged by Chris Coon and Hal Blevins.

Voters in Paoli will have a choice between Mary Lee Gish and Boyd L. Nichols for a two-year unexpired term on the board of trustees there.

Maysville voters will consider six candidates going after three spots on the board of trustees. They include Marshall Neill, Trinity Jones, Jacque Martin, Dennis L. Purkhiser, Gay Freeman and Donald E. Breitkreutz.

Elmore City voters will choose between David K. Schmidt, Searcy J. Simmons Jr. and Steven Johnson as the trio goes for a city council post.

The one race in Stratford is for a board office sought by Dorothy Pruitt and D. Mark Stone.

All remaining municipal offices that were part of the recent filing period, including all four in Wynnewood, were won by candidates running unopposed.

Another deadline for the election is Wednesday, April 1, which is for voters requesting mailed absentee ballots.

In-person absentee voting is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6.

If a runoff election is needed for any of the races the vote there would come on May 12.