Candidates line up for Mansfield ISD, City Council seats

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

The ballot for Mansfield City Council and Mansfield ISD school board is set for the May 1 election, and it’s a full slate.

On the City Council, Places 3, 4 and 5 are in play with nine candidates on the ballot.

For Place 3, Mike Leyman, a retired police officer, is seeking a second three-year term, but is challenged by George Fassett, a businessman who ran for Mansfield mayor last fall, and Eddie Allen Chatman, an assembly worker.

At Place 4, incumbent Casey Lewis, a local Realtor and businessman, is looking for a second three-year term and facing Vaughan Wynne-Jones, a solutions delivery manager/EMT; David Klein, a human resources director; and Houston Mitchell, an auto transporter.

In the Place 5 seat, incumbent Julie Short is seeking a second three-year term against Christie K. Moore, a local mortician.

In the Mansfield ISD election, Places 1, 2 and 4 will be on the ballot. The vote for Place 4 will be a special election for the final year of the three-year term. Raul Gonzalez held the seat until he resigned after being elected to the Arlington City Council in November.

At Place 1, incumbent Michelle Newsom, a nurse and medical administrator, faces Godson Onwubiko Jr., a process engineer, and Kenneth Chalk, a university employee.

For the Place 2 seat, incumbent Desiree “Dez” Thomas, a longtime local volunteer, is facing Yolanda McPherson, a retired educator who was recently in a run-off against school board president Courtney Lackey Wilson; Philip DeGroat, who is self-employed and ran for Mansfield City Council last year; and Theresa Okoro, a registered nurse.

The race for Place 4 has drawn seven candidates: Corinne Fiagome, a nonprofit and social sector consultant who also ran against Wilson last fall; Christine Beason, a customer training manager; Meagan Sutton, a physical therapist and owner of Shaneboys; Denise Lunski, a retired state employee; Kevin Robedee, a teacher; Keziah Valdes Farrar, a Realtor; and Brad Crane, a financial advisor.

Early voting will run from April 19-27. Election Day is May 1.

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