While four seats are coming open on Coastal Bend College Board, only one has drawn an opponent.

Sid Arismendez is challenging Douglas L. Arnold, who was appointed to fill Place 2 after Dr. Grady Hogue resigned the seat.

Hogue resigned from the board in October, citing personal reasons.

He also left Beeville Family Practice to work at Scott and White Sun City Clinic in Georgetown.

Hogue served on the board for 12 years as trustee and most recently as vice chair of the board.

Arnold was appointed in November to fill his position until this election.

Arnold currently serves as a school finance consultant for school districts in ESC Region 2 and in the area of school finance and contracts with other districts for similar services.

Arismendez has a solo law practice in Beeville.

Early voting begins Monday, April 26, and continues through May 4 at the CBC Robert J. Beasley Administration Building in the Sandy Dirks Board Room. Hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Application for mail ballots must be received by April 30. Early voting ballots sent by mail must arrive before the time the polls are required to close on election day.

The regular election will be held on May 8.

The seats on the board are considered “open” so anybody in Bee County can vote for up to four places.

Three other positions are coming open this year but none has drawn opposition.

Place 7

Laura Fischer is running without an opponent for Place 7. She currently holds the seat having been appointed to fill it after Bill Dirks resigned. His resignation was accepted by the board on July 24, 2008.

Fischer grew up in Bee County and graduated from Pettus High School.

She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received both her bachelor of science and master’s degree in mathematics education.

Fischer taught school in Austin ISD and Beeville ISD before joining her family business, R.W. Dirks Petroleum Engineering, Inc.

Fischer served on the Beeville Independent School District Board for 15 years and is active in the Beeville community.

She has received many honors, including Bee County Citizen of the Year in 2006.

She and her husband, Jon, have one daughter.

Place 4

Victor Gomez is running unopposed for the Place 4 seat that was left vacant when Fred Morón resigned in January.

Morón served the college board for eight years.

Victor Gomez attended Coastal Bend College in 1998 and 1999 in hopes of one day becoming a nurse.

He accomplished that goal and more.

Gomez is manager of medical, surgical and pediatrics nursing at Christus Spohn Hospital in Beeville. He has worked for Christus Spohn as manager of the coronary intensive care unit in Corpus Christi and education coordinator and ICU nurse in Beeville. He is a registered nurse and a certified EMT paramedic.

Place 5

In Place 5, Emilia Dominguez is running for a seat on the board — also without opposition. She has held the seat since 1998.

Dominguez grew up in San Patricio County and graduated from Mathis High School.

She attended the University of Texas in Austin where she received her bachelor of science degree in education and she went on to receive a secondary certification to teach mathematics and Spanish at the secondary level.

She received her master’s degree in science and guidance from Corpus Christi State University as well as a mid-management certification.

Dominguez taught school before becoming a school counselor and is currently the assistant principal at A.C. Jones High School in Beeville.

She joined the CBC board in 1998.

She and her husband, Adolfo, have one daughter.