Sulphur residents will once again be asked to go the polls next Tuesday, April 7, to vote on an amendment to the Sulphur City Charter.
The same request was soundly rejected by voters almost 2-1 in a special election held less than six months ago in October, 2025. The vote was 159 No, and 83 Yes.
The proposed amendment change refers to Section 2,Article 11 of the charter pertaining to competitive bidding. The request on the ballot, is same as before, to completely remove Section 2 and renumber the remainder ofArticle 11. Section 2 does have stricter spending limits than is allowed by state statutes without going out for competitive bids. But, if approved, a higher spending threshold without competitive bidding could result in less oversight, less transparency, and less accountability as to where and to whom local revenue is being spent. Section 2 of Article 11 is the only Section of the charter governing the competitive bidding process.
AYes vote on the ballot would allow for the bidding process to be completely removed from the charter, while a No vote would leave the charter unchanged.
Also on the ballot is a race for the Ward 5 Council seat. Ide Russell is challenging incumbent Daniel Gordon for the position.
Early voting will be held Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3, at the Murray County Election Board Office with voting day set for Tuesday, April 7 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at polling places designated within the city limits.
All registered voters within the city limits of Sulphur are eligible to vote in the city election, both in the council race and for the charter proposition regardless of the ward in which they reside.
Also on Tuesday’s ballot for some Murray County voters are two board of education races for area vo-tech schools and one board of education member to be decided in Roff.
Running for the Office No. 3 Board of Education spot in the SouthernTech District 20 are Georganne Westfall and Catherine Roring.
Vying for the Office No. 2 seat on the Mid-America Tech Center District No. 8 board are Michael Dillinger and Bruce Bridwell.
And, finally some voters in the county will be asked to decide on a Roff Public Schools Office No. 1 board position being challenged by Karon S. Hedges and Kelsey Ensey.
Ward 5 Council Candidates
