BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont pastor has announced his intention to run for Beaumont's city council this May.
Carlton Sharp, who holds a doctorate in divinity, has been the pastor at Faith Christian Center Church in Beaumont for 23 years.
"I see a need for our community," Sharp told 12News by phone on Friday. "It's time for change in ward three."
This will be his first time running for office he told 12News Friday,
"We have an opportunity as a city to go to another level and I want to be a part of that and be a servant leader to our community," Sharp said.
Sharp plans to hold a rally to kick off his campaign on January 20, 2023, in the Tevis Room at the Lakeside Center, just next to the Beaumont Event Center, in downtown.
Audwin Samuel currently holds the city council seat for ward three. He has held the seat since 1999 and previously held it from 1984 through 1993 according to the City of Beaumont website.
The Beaumont city clerk will start accepting candidate applications on January 18, 2023 with a filing deadline of 5 p.m. February 17, 2023.
The municipal election will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Early voting will be from April 24, 2023 through May 2, 2023, according to the city.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.