To vote in the May election, residents must be registered to vote no later than April 11, 2013
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By Tina Auten, Staff Writer
With sixbrplaces on the Southlake City Council, at least one place is up for election orbrre-election each May and this year, Place 3, 4, and 5 are on the ballot. Registered voters will be able to cast theirbrballots on Saturday, May 11.
Filing beganbrWednesday, January 30 and closes Friday, March 1. Thus far, only three candidates have thrownbrthe proverbial hat in the ring. Earlybrvoting begins April 29 and ends May 7. brHowever, if all City Council candidates continue to draw no oppositionbrafter the write in period, then by Council resolution, the election will bebrformally cancelled.
Inbrpreparation for the upcoming election, let's meet the candidates:
Place 3 –brCurrently held by Mayor Pro Tem, Brandon Bledsoe, who is running unopposed asbrof this writing. Councilman Bledsoe hasbrlived in Southlake with his wife, Juli, and children, Cameron and Guen, sincebr1998 and has been an energetic addition to the community. Before being elected to fill Place 3 in 2009,brBledsoe had several years of experience with the Planning & ZoningbrCommission and also served as chairman of SPIN br(Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods). With over 25 years of professional realbrestate banking experience, Bledsoe has been a supporter of the city’s masterbrplan known as 2025 and also endorses plans for integrated open space andbrrecreational systems that create value while preserving Southlake’s naturalbrassets.
Place 4 – Currentlybrheld by Al Zito (who has not filed as of this writing) and challenged by RandybrWilliamson. Candidate Randy Williamson hasbrbeen an active member of the community since moving to Southlake with wife Amybrand their four children, Abby, Grace, Ben, and Jake seven years ago. Williamson has coached in the SouthlakebrBaseball Association, Dragon Youth Football, and Southlake Flag Footballbrleagues as well as refereed for the Upwards Basketball Program. He has shown his commitment to the City ofbrSouthlake by serving on the Parks & Recreation Board, SPIN, and Planningbr& Zoning Commissioner. He adheres tobra philosophy of fiscal responsibility, which translates to living within ourbrfiscal means and not raising taxes.
Place 5 – Currentlybrheld by Jeff Wang who is not seeking re-election, former councilwoman and MayorbrPro Tem Laura Hill is running for Place 5. brIn addition to Hill’s previous experience on the City Council, she hasbrvolunteered in the community by co-founding both SPARK (Students and ParentsbrAgainst Risks to Kids) and SASO (Scholars and Athletes Serving Others). Hill has demonstrated determination to keepbrthe children of Southlake safe and has tackled tough issues facing today’sbrteens such as drugs and alcohol. She recently joined the safety task force createdbrby Mayor John Terrell. Hill has alsobrserved as chairwoman of the Recovery Resource Council of Tarrant County, anbrorganization specializing in outreach, intervention, and prevention ofbrdrug/alcohol abuse.