The candidate filing period for the May 2 election for city of Denton council positions and the Denton ISD school board ended at 5 p.m. Feb. 13.

Five Denton City Council seats and two spots on Denton ISD’s board of trustees are up for grabs, and several candidates have filed their candidacy.

On the ballot: Denton election ordinance prevents Mayor Gerard Hudspeth from running for another term as mayor. Hudspeth is serving his third term as mayor, and city regulations forbid council members and the mayor from serving for more than three consecutive terms in the same elected position.

The current mayoral candidates are:

• Shannon Childs
• Chris Watts
• Brian Beck
• Angela Brewer

• George Michael Ferrie Jr.
• Caleb Meese
• Erica Garland

Halloween is starting early in Denton with a themed party hosted by the Greater Denton Arts Council in February.

The details: The inaugural Moonlight Monster Ball will be Feb. 21 at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center at 400 E. Hickory St. in Denton. Those attending are encouraged to wear elegant or more formal Halloween costumes, according to the event’s website.

Moonlight Monster Ball is being spearheaded by David Pierce, the executive director of Cirque du Horror, a Denton-based, family-friendly musical that dives into the ancient history of Halloween.

“Leaning into the Halloween vibe for this February event, we thought it could be a fun alternative to Valentine’s Day,” Pierce said. “When was the last time you went to a fancy gala and sat next to someone in a vampire costume?”

The backstory: Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival is considered a staple event for the city, according to the event website. The festival started in 2009, and Cirque du Horror began performing at the festival in 2011.

Voters in Denton can cast their ballots for the upcoming March 3 primary election during the early voting period Feb.17-27.

What you need to know: Denton County residents can vote at any of the 55 county voting locations during the early voting period, but only at their precinct location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on election day.

Early voting polling location operating hours vary, according to the Denton County Election Office’s website, and are as follows:

• Feb. 17-20, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Feb. 21, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Feb 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Feb. 23-27, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Two Democratic candidates will vie for U.S. House of Representatives District 26 during the March 3 primary election.

What you need to know: Steven Shook will face Ernest R. Lineberger III for a place on the ballot in the November general election for the U.S. House seat. The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary between incumbent Brandon Gill and Robert Chick in November.

The winner of the election in November will be sworn in for a two-year term starting in January 2027.

The district encompasses parts of three counties: Cooke, Denton and Wise.

Preparing for the polls: Early voting for the March 3 primary election runs from Feb. 17-27. Voters can cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. The March 3 primary includes 18 statewide races and other local races.

For more coverage on local, state and federal races on the March 3 ballot, visit communityimpact.com/election.

Two Republican candidates will vie for U.S. House of Representatives District 26 during the March 3 primary election.

What you need to know: Incumbent Brandon Gill will face Robert Chick in the Republican primary for a place on the ballot in the November general election. The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Steven Shook and Ernest R. Lineberger III in November.

The winner of the election in November will be sworn in for a two-year term starting in January 2027.

The district encompasses parts of three counties: Cooke, Denton and Wise.

Preparing for the polls: Early voting for the March 3 primary election runs from Feb. 17-27. Voters can cast ballots in either the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. The March 3 primary includes 18 statewide races and other local races.

For more coverage on local, state and federal races on the March 3 ballot, visit communityimpact.com/election.

Here are five updates for road projects around Dallas-Fort Worth. 

1. FM 407 and I-35W intersection improvements
Project: Work includes adding right-turn lanes on the west side of FM 407 and I-35W to improve congestion. The project also includes adding drainage, vehicle deflection walls at the FM 407 and I-35W overpass and pavement markings.
Update: The Denton County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Ed Bell Construction Company during its regular meeting Jan. 30.

• Timeline: Construction will begin in February and take 100 days to complete.
• Cost: $3.03 million
• Funding source: Denton County

• Timeline: summer 2025-summer 2026
• Cost: $3.1 million
• Funding sources: city of McKinney, TxDOT Highway Safety Improvement Project funds

Early in-person voting in Texas’ primary elections begins Feb. 17 and lasts until Feb. 27.

How it works: Texas has an open primary system, where voters decide at the polling place whether to cast ballots in the Democratic or Republican primary. Voters may not participate in both primaries.

What to expect: Voters will be given a ballot with a slate of statewide seats and other races determined by the voting precinct they live in. During early voting, registered voters can visit any polling location in their county.

Candidates who win their primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 midterm election.

Why it matters: Early voting gives registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballots before primary election day March 3.

Voter advocacy groups and experts told Community Impact that a vote in the March primaries is “the most impactful vote” Texans can cast, due to consistently low voter turnout and competition in certain races. Over 18 million Texans are registered to vote, although about one-fifth of registered voters participated in recent primary elections.