Residents hit the polls Monday on the first day of early voting for the May 5 municipal elections throughout the area.

Early voting starts today and multiple seats are up for grab across Central Texas in the upcoming May 5 municipal election.

Five candidates, including the first-term incumbent, are running for Killeen’s mayoral seat on the May 5 ballot.

Two at-large seats on the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 board will be decided May 5 among three candidates who filed to run in early February.

Twelve candidates are running in a crowded race for three at-large Killeen City Council seats up for election May 5.

Q: The Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 is holding a board election May 5 — why should I care?

Your future should flash before you.

In a move away from past election seasons, candidates for Killeen municipal races have been holding a series of town hall forums over the past two months.

For the first time online, residents can get a glimpse into the inner workings of the governing body managing the city of Killeen’s drinking water.

“We’ve not been transparent — but that’s changing.”

Three candidates for the May 5 Killeen City Council at-large election are holding forums this week to meet residents and offer their takes on pressing issues in the city.

Incumbent state District 54 Rep. Scott Cosper, R-Killeen, was unable to attend two election forums this week because of scheduling conflicts, he said Friday.

HARKER HEIGHTS — Scott Cosper and Brad Buckley, candidates for Texas House District 54, are immersed in a runoff election on May 22 for a spot on the Republican side of the ballot, but only Buckley attended a political forum in Harker Heights Thursday night.

The two incumbents for the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 board election May 5 will not be in attendance at a public forum for the race April 19.

Local political candidates will be facing voters at a forum on Thursday, April 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harker Heights Activity Center. The forum is held by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Herencia Council 4297, in partnership with the Stars & Stripes Exchange Club.

About 40 residents were in attendance Monday at a forum for local, state and national candidates’ sponsored by the Killeen chapter of the NAACP and the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 4535.

The only Killeen City Council candidate with an outstanding state-mandated personal finance report turned the form in before the Thursday deadline, according to Killeen Director of Communications Hilary Shine.

Killeen City Council at-large candidate Tolly James Jr. held a town hall forum Saturday covering his platform on city finances, public safety and more.

Four candidates for the May 5 Killeen municipal elections — including two incumbents — did not file 30-day campaign finance reports with the city, leaving themselves open to possible criminal or civil penalties.

A pair of Killeen City Council candidates in the upcoming May 5 election held public meet-and-greets Saturday.

City finances and public safety were the topics of note Thursday during a Killeen council and mayoral political forum for the May 5 election hosted by the League of United Latin American Citizens Herencia Council No. 4297.

Lampasas County District Clerk Cody Reed could not be reached after multiple attempts through his county office this week. His absence has spurred questions over whether consequences will ensue.

Patsy Bracey, a candidate for the May 5 Killeen City Council at large election, will hold a town hall forum from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Killeen Community Center.