There is one open seat on the Hennessey Board of Trustees that carries with it a two-year unexpired term.

Two candidates filed for the seat: Frank Patton, 65, and John Peach, 73.

Voters will mark the box next to just one name on this portion of the ballot.

ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

Frank Patton, 65, works for High Pressure Transports LLC. He worked in accounts receivable and payable at Iron Eagle Resources, 2021-24, and on state and federal regulatory matters for Longhorn Service Companies, 2010-21.

He was a town trustee candidate two years ago.

He is single and has three children and five grandchildren: Ashley French (Caroline, Nolen and Savannah), Megan Patton and Lauren McGuire (Noah and Levi).

Patton graduated from Healdton High School in 1977; from the University of Oklahoma in 1981 majoring in business administration and petroleum land management and the Natural Resources Law Institute.

He is currently a member of ABATE (legislative activist group for laws affecting motorcyclists) and American Association of Professional Landmen.

John Peach, 73, has been a farmer for 55 years.

He is married to Carol (Edwards), who is also a partner in their farming operation. They have two children, Gina (Jason) Esau and Derek (Rhonda) Peach, as well as five grandchildren, Mallory, Aubrey, Whitney, Kaleb and Kenna.

Peach ran for the Hennessey School Board in 1992 and served on that board from 1992-02.

He attended Hennessey Public Schools starting in 1957 and graduated from there in 1969, then attended Oklahoma State University where he majored in agriculture and economics and graduated in May 1973.

He is a member of the Hennessey First Christian Church, Bison Cooperative Association Board of Directors, Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Board and the Hennessey Educational School Foundation.

QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES

Tell voters why we should vote for you:

Frank Patton: “I have been attending Trustee meetings for well over a year, bringing issues of residents to the Trustees’ attention. I am not pleased with how some of these issues were handled by a few current trustees and the town office. There are times where ‘closed door’ executive sessions are mandated. However, these times should be rare. I promise complete openness and transparency. Every voice matters, and every action counts.”

John Peach: “I’ve been part of the Hennessey community my whole life and I’ve lived here for the past six years. I care a lot about our town and want to help make it an even better place to live. I’ll work with the board and town employees to make improvements where they’re needed and keep the things that make Hennessey special.”

What are the top two issues, or projects, in your town that need immediate attention? If elected, what will you do about them?

Frank Patton: (1) “Water/ sewer service needs improvement. The department does what it can with what we have in place. Nobody wants rate increases, but we need to find funding and financial assistance to begin replacing our old, outdated lines.”(2) “We need to focus on where funds are being spent and be clear about what is being purchased with our town’s money. I want to make everything I do to be what’s best for Hennessey as a whole.”

John Peach: “ Hennessey, like most small towns, doesn’t have a lot of extra money for projects we need, like fixing streets, water systems and sewers. The current board and administration have done a good job getting grants for street repairs and I want to help keep that going by finding more funding. I also think it’s important for the board to make sure every dollar is spent wisely and benefits the people of our town.”