POSTED: Monday, January 14, 2013 - 9:00pm
UPDATED: Monday, January 14, 2013 - 9:14pm
Longview, TX (Longview News-Journal) — With the candidate filing period soon to open to run for city government, several sitting public servants, including one Longview councilman and three area mayors, have confirmed they intend to run for re-election in May.
Longview District 6 Councilman Sidney Allen is one of the handful of elected officials that said this week they intend to run for re-election.
Allen will finish his second term serving on Longview’s City Council this year; the city of Longview imposes a maximum of three three-year terms for all seven positions.
“When I first started with the City Council it was out of necessity. The City Council was in a rough spot, but it has improved. We now have an excellent city government and excellent team of senior city employees,” Allen said.
District 5, represented by councilman Richard Manley, and District 6 are the two Longview positions open for re-election in May’s general election.
Manley has only served one term and is eligible to run to retain his position if he so chooses. He was not available for comment on his intentions late this past week.
It takes several years for members of a city government to learn to work smoothly with each other, Allen said.
His words were echoed by sitting Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, who is also up for re-election in May.
“Well, we have new people heading up many departments and they have plans for police, fire and public works; so, we need to see them to fruition and keep things headed in the right direction,” said Spradlin, who confirmed he planned to run for reelection.
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