Jena Town Council · Nov 3, 2026
Donny
Richardson
Donny Richardson, the incumbent, is running for Jena Town Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 5 seats.
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The race · Town Council
- 01Brian Allison
- 02Russell Dorton
- 03Lester FrancisIncumbent
- 04Clint Masters
- 05Timmy Renz
- 06Donny RichardsonYou’re reading
- 07Tommy SandiferIncumbent
- 08Cindy White
Background
- About
- Member of the Jena Town Council for 28 years.
- On the ballot as
- Republican
On the record: Donny Richardson
14 sourced01Budget and taxes4 sourced positions
Said he is against any new sales tax or new millages for the Town of Jena.
I’ll also go on record to say that I’m against any new sales tax or new millages for the Town of Jena as I believe we have enough to manage the town’s needs.”
Own statementThe Jena Times · Aug 12, 2026Link
Said the town is debt free and he will work to keep it that way.
I’m especially proud of the fact that we are debt free and I will work to keep it that way.”
Own statementThe Jena Times · Aug 12, 2026Link
Voted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025LinkHow the council voted
02Police and fire4 sourced positions
Said at a February 2026 council meeting that he would like to consider a pay increase for Fire Department personnel.
Own statementJena Town Council minutes, Feb. 2, 2026 · Feb 2, 2026Link
Voted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Aug. 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Jan. 12, 2026 · Jan 12, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Utilities3 sourced positions
Voted yes on introducing amended Ordinance 157 on utility rates (passed unanimously, September 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on a resolution for a lease-purchase agreement to finance a water and gas metering system (passed unanimously, December 2025).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on authorizing drive-by-read water and gas meters funded by a $5.00 monthly technology fee on each customer bill (passed unanimously, November 2025).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Nov. 3, 2025 · Nov 3, 2025LinkHow the council voted
04Sewer system1 sourced position
Voted yes on awarding the Grit Chamber System Improvements contract to Womack & Sons Construction Group, LLC for $729,842 (passed unanimously, July 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Blighted property2 sourced positions
Voted yes on Ordinance 214, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code (passed unanimously, May 2026).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, May 4, 2026 · May 4, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on awarding the demolition of 2730 and 2724 E Oak St to the low bidder (passed unanimously, August 2025).
Council voteJena Town Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2025 · Aug 4, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Donny Richardson: their words and their votes on the same issue
Budget and taxes
In their words
Said the town is debt free and he will work to keep it that way.
Aug 12, 2026 ·The Jena Times · Aug 12, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on adopting the 2026 budgets for the General, Utility and Sales Tax funds (passed unanimously, December 2025).
Dec 1, 2025 ·Jena Town Council minutes, Dec. 1, 2025 · Dec 1, 2025
Voted yes on adopting the millage rate for tax year 2026 (passed unanimously, June 2026).
Jun 1, 2026 ·Jena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026
Police and fire
In their words
Said at a February 2026 council meeting that he would like to consider a pay increase for Fire Department personnel.
Feb 2, 2026 ·Jena Town Council minutes, Feb. 2, 2026 · Feb 2, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on adding $22,000 to the police salary budget for officer salary increases (passed unanimously, January 2026).
Jan 12, 2026 ·Jena Town Council minutes, Jan. 12, 2026 · Jan 12, 2026
Voted yes on authorizing a five-year agreement with Axon Enterprises, Inc. for Tasers and body cameras (passed unanimously, June 2026).
Jun 1, 2026 ·Jena Town Council minutes, June 1, 2026 · Jun 1, 2026
Voted yes on amending Ordinance 131, the personnel policies, to allow limited police overtime pay (passed unanimously, August 2026).
Aug 3, 2026 ·Jena Town Council minutes, Aug. 3, 2026 · Aug 3, 2026
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