Election season is underway across Liberty County, not only for the March 3 primary races but also for upcoming city and school board elections. Municipal races across the county will be decided on May 2, 2026. Below is a look at the candidates running for mayoral and city council positions, listed in alphabetical order by city.
Ames
Four candidates have filed in the City of Ames.
James Willard Dugat III and Alfred Lee Freeman Jr. are both seeking Position 4.
Elizabeth Hardy is unopposed for Position 2.
Dwight Demetrius Durham is unopposed for Position 1.
Cleveland
In Cleveland, several incumbents are seeking reelection. Brent McWaters is running unopposed for Position 3. Desiree David is unopposed for Position 4, and Rachel Hall is running unopposed for Position 5.
A newly created seat, Position 6, has drawn two candidates. Tonya Clark and Nick Cunninghame are both seeking the seat. Neither has previously served on the council.
Daisetta
In Daisetta, Mayor Chancie Bailey is running for a council seat, while Councilwoman Cindy Burchfield is running for mayor. The two are unopposed and will effectively swap seats following the May election.
Dayton
In Dayton, Charlie Whitehead is the only candidate seeking Position 3 on the council.
Two candidates are running for mayor: Martin Mudd and Andy Conner.
Hardin
All three races in Hardin are uncontested.
Brett Clark is running unopposed for Seat 2, and Elaine Tidwell is unopposed for Seat 4. Both are incumbents.
Eloy Rodriguez is unopposed for Seat 3. Rodriguez was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Tommy Small and will be seeking election to the seat for the first time.
Kenefick
As of publication, a list of candidates for the City of Kenefick was not available.
Liberty
The City of Liberty will have contested races for both mayor and council.
Incumbent Mayor John Hebert Jr. is seeking reelection and will face Tommy Brents, who currently serves as a councilman. With Brents pursuing the mayor’s seat, his at-large council position is open. Betty Wells Runkle, who previously served on the Liberty Economic Development Corporation, is seeking that seat.
Council members Ross Ward and Ed Seymour are both seeking reelection. Unlike several other cities in the county, Liberty council members serve at-large rather than in designated positions.
Plum Grove
In Plum Grove, the same three current officeholders who presently serve have filed for reelection.
Mayor Mary Arrendell is seeking another term. Nicole Rose is running for reelection to Position 4, and Froy Ortiz is seeking reelection to Position 2.