Terry Phillips

In May, council seats are contested in two Smith County cities, with one mayor facing opposition. Additionally, Republicans from the March primary advance to the runoff for county commissioner Precinct 3.

“Political subdivisions that typically have an election are not holding one, so this is unique,” said Michelle Allcon, Smith County Election Administrator. “We will have to see how active the people get in coming out to vote.”

The joint election has 14,500 eligible voters, while the primary runoff has over double that number, with 38,300 registered voters. However, Allcon’s expectations for turnout are low.

“We are not expecting a big turnout,” Allcon said. “I don’t think it’s going to be crowded with people waiting in line, but I think it will be steady, at least for the City of Tyler [race].”

Comparing May 2024 to similar elections like May 2022 is challenging due to fewer political subdivisions participating. While turnout may not match the May 2022 joint election, this year has been unusual for the elections administrator, marked by several firsts.

In her experience, the current election marks the first time she observed no statewide candidates heading to runoffs. She highlighted the absence of a runoff in the Smith County Democratic Party, which is unprecedented for her, and pointed out that there is only one runoff race across the county.

“You have state races taking place in specific districts across the state, but not an actual statewide race,” Allcon said. “I have never conducted a primary runoff where both parties were not participating. I’ve never conducted a primary runoff where we have a single race on the ballot, and that’s it. It’s also very unusual.”

Early voting for joint elections starts April 22 and ends April 30. May 4 is Election Day, and the last day to receive a ballot by mail is also May 4.

Republican primary voters can participate in the runoff election on May 28. Early in-person voting begins on April 22, with the deadline for submitting mail-in ballot applications set for April 23. The last day for in-person submissions is April 30. Election day is May 4, which is also the final day for the elections office to receive mail-in ballots.

Smith County residents have local elections for the City of Tyler District 2, City of Lindale Place 2, and City of Arp council and mayor positions. Republican primary voters and those who missed the March primary can participate in the County Commissioner Precinct 3 Primary Runoff Election.

Voters can utilize an interactive map on the county’s current elections information website to determine their eligibility for specific elections in Smith County. This feature aids voters in identifying whether they reside within districts holding an election.

“If you choose the tab that says joint election, it will show you the areas that are not grayed out are the areas that will be participating in the May 4 election,” Allcon said. “There’s also a tab for the runoff so you can click on that to see if you’re within the commissioner precinct three boundary lines.”

Allcon said the interactive map can be highly beneficial for voters as it provides valuable information and displays the polling places that will be open.

Voting systems

In the City of Tyler election, anyone can vote for the mayor. However, because it is a single member district, meaning one person is elected to represent the residents of a specific area rather than the entire political subdivision, candidates and voters must reside within that specific area.

If any of the single member districts are unopposed, the election for those races can be canceled.

A different type of voting system, would be the City of Lindale, which is an at large election by place. Anyone residing in the city can run or vote for any of the city council places, but when filing for candidacy they must designate a specific council position.

An example would be if there are three council places up for election, and two already have candidates filed, a third person could file for the final place or choose to run against another candidate for a specific place instead of accepting the open position.

If there is an at-large by place election, and all are uncontested except for one, all of the races still have to be listed on the ballot.

The City of Winona and Arp have an at-large voting system. Anyone who wants to file for a council position can do so. If there are more candidates than there are seats, whoever gets the most votes will take those positions, while if there are three seats and three candidates the race is uncontested.

If the council is uncontested but the mayor’s race isn’t, those races still have to be on the ballot.

Who’s on the ballot?

May 4 joint election

City of Tyler District 2

Petra Hawkins brings over 32 years of experience in healthcare. A Tyler native, Hawkins believes she possesses a unique understanding and empathy for the community’s needs. As a candidate, she pledges to amplify the voices of her community’s underrepresented individuals. She is a member of the Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Tyler Metro Chamber of Commerce, the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters.

Dexter Floyd is an educational leader and community empowerment advocate. As the principal of Tyler ISD’s RISE Academy, Floyd said he has demonstrated skill in fostering an educational environment where every student can excel, particularly resonating with the aspirations of Black and Hispanic families. He holds a Doctor of Education degree in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University.

Stephen Dinger relocated to Rose City in 2014, cites his genuine love for his adopted home city as his motivation for seeking to serve District 2 on the Tyler City Council. Dinger is a Risk Advisor for Cadence Insurance, where he consults with companies nationwide on their insurance programs. He is also a partner at Tarry Title and owns real estate investments across the city.

City of Arp

Mayor candidates

Terry Lowry, is an Arp native, who served on the city council, before he ran for mayor the first time in 2016. He was elected and held the role until last term. He graduated from Arp High School before attending Abilene Christian University, where he earned a business management degree. Lowry has coached sports leagues and ran a business in town for years.

Dennis L. Ford has lived in Arp for 25 years. Before becoming mayor, he was a city council member for several years. He has 28 years of experience with the state Department of Human Services as regional budget director, which he contributes toward his qualifications for the role. Ford is retired and has the freedom to focus entirely on his role as mayor.

Council candidates

Craig Robinson earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Kilgore College and started working for the Arp Police Department in 2001. After 17 years, he held the rank of sergeant lieutenant assistant chief, and for the final four years, he was the chief of police. In 2018, he started the Arp ISD Police Department and held the chief role for six years.

Chris Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from UT Tyler and a master’s in education from Lamar University. He’s worked as an educator since 2008 and teaches forensics at Arp High School. Distressed by the federal and state political landscapes and discourse, Johnson was inspired to participate in local government, where he felt people could make the most impact in their communities.

City of Lindale

Yvette Martin, a Lindale resident for 14 years, relocated from San Antonio, choosing small-town life. She was a Lindale Parks Advisory Board member from 2015 to 2019, before she was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Committee. Martin later filled the unexpired term of Place 2 councilman Clyde Harper in October 2020. Her experience with parks and zoning boards gave Martin insight into the city’s growth, benefiting her as she served on the council.

Jerretta Nance Pate is a Lindale high school graduate and city resident for 39 years. Pate has been a business owner in the community her entire adult life. Pate served on local boards and in organizations. She has been a member of the Lindale Chamber of Commerce since 2008. She also served on the Friends of the Lindale Library board and Lindale Pilot Club, is a Lindale Rotary Club member and is a past member of the Hideaway Lake Kiwanis Club.

May 28 Republican Primary Runoff election

Smith County Commissioner Precinct 3

J. Scott Herod’s background is in large corporate finance. He started as a manager at Bank of America. He became a senior vice president, supervising operations of rural banking centers in Texas, Arizona and other states. He left Bank of America in 2012 to co-own APEC, Athlete Performance Enhancement Center, in Tyler. He sold his stake in the fitness center in 2014 and opened Cut Beef, where he runs his small business and ranch.

Terry Phillips took office in January 2009. He attended Tyler Junior College, earning an associate degree in petroleum technology. He worked in the oil and gas industry until the mid-1980s when he began acquiring real estate and managing properties today. Phillips said his knowledge, previous experience and conservative beliefs bring balance to the court. He has a record of voting in favor of taxpayers and said that is how he will continue to vote.

Important dates

Joint City Election

May 4 — Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail

Election Day

Locations and Times

May 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Arp First Baptist Church: 304 W. Front St., Arp, TX 75750

Heritage Building: 1900 Bellwood Rd., Tyler, TX 75701

Main Location The HUB: 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702

Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale, TX 75771

St. Louis Baptist Church: 4000 Frankston Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701

Three Lakes Middle School: 2445 Three Lakes Pkwy., Tyler, TX 75703

Republican Primary Runoff

April 29 — Last Day to Register to Vote

May 17 — Last Day to Submit an Application for a Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked)

May 20 — First Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

May 24 — Last Day of Early Voting by Personal Appearance

May 4 — Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail

Locations and Times

Early Voting

Main Location The HUB: 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702

Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale, TX 75771

Dates and Hours

Monday through Friday, May 20 to 24, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Election Day

May 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Clarkston Elementary: 2915 Williamsburg Dr., Tyler, TX 75701

Main Location The HUB: 304 E. Ferguson St., Tyler, TX 75702

Lindale Kinzie Community Center: 912 Mt. Sylvan St., Lindale, TX 75771

Starrville Church of the Living God: 18396 Hwy 271, Winona, TX 75792