Filings closed for Seats 6/7 of City Council

By DAVID MORRIS

Cove Leader-Press

Filings for the November election for city council seats 6 and 7 closed on Monday with one filing for each of the seats.

George Duncan, who finished third in the July 22 Place 5 election has threw his hat in the ring for Place 6 and will run unopposed for the seat that is currently held by Jim Schmitz. Schmitz is at the end of his first term and has opted not to rerun for the seat.

Duncan is a the owner of Barley and Hops Home Brew shop, real estate investor and retired service member who has lived in the city for four years after returning to Fort Hood on active duty.  

Filing in the final hour for place 7 is Matthew Russell, a retired Colonel from the Army and has lived in the city for 19 years. He looks to fill the seat held by Frank Seffrood who is term limited after serving two consecutive three year terms, most recently as the Mayor Pro-tem.

Russell currently serves on the Cemetery Advisory Board and has applied for the Economic Development Corporation board as well as the City Planning and Zoning Commission.

He has 30 years military experience as an engineer and was a facility engineer for Operational Test Command.  He served as the principal engineer officer assigned to restore and enhance the essential services to the cities of Mosul (3.2 million citizens) and Kirkuk (2.5 million citizens) while serving in Iraq. He provided city planning guidance to two provincial governors while in Iraq.

From 2011 to 2013 he served as the Senior Engineer Forces Command at Fort Bragg and from 2009-2010 as the Senior Engineer Advisor, at the Peace Keeping and Stability Operations Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle PA. 

His education includes a Masters of Strategic Military Studies, Masters of Education Administration, Bachelor of Science Degree with a history minor and a Teacher Certification for the State of Texas. Military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Ranger, SAPPER, Air Borne and The Corps of Engineers Bronze and Sliver de Fleury Medals. 

During the November election, voters will have the opportunity to decide on amendments to the City Charter as well as decide mid-term races on the national stage.  

The final day to register to vote in this election is October 6 with early voting set to begin on October 20, ending October 31. 

November 4 is set as Election Day across the nation.