Three first-time candidates among those running for city council

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

For three of the eight candidates running for Copperas Cove city council, this is their first run for public office. 
In the race for Copperas Cove city council Place 3, currently held by incumbent Dan Yancey, both Jayme Sigler and Dario Eubanks are running against Yancey. 
Sigler is a 24-year-old single mother of Joshua, nearly two years old. They moved to Copperas Cove with her mother in September, 2018. While staying home with her son, she works as a babysitter and attends Liberty University online, majoring in prelaw. Sigler enjoys singing and writing, as well as spending time with her son and six animals. Sigler said she spends much of her free time considering ways she can make the community and the world a better place and putting those plans into action whenever possible. 
She is also active in the community through karaoke, performing at this year’s Rabbit Fest, and attending church nearly every week. 
Sigler is passionate about sidewalk safety and homelessness. Having personally met and befriended a few individuals, she’s since learned more about the issues and struggles that those living in homelessness and extreme poverty face here.
This is her first political campaign. Sigler attempted to run in the mayoral special election this spring, but did not meet all of the requirements at that time to run for office.
Dario Eubank is also running for Copperas Cove city council Place 3. Eubank came to Central Texas in 2012 after completing his tour in Korea serving in the Army. Eubank departed active duty in 2017 and is serving in the Army Reserves until December of 2019. 
Eubank recently completed his second Master’s degree at UTEP in Defense and Strategic Studies and earned his first Master of Arts degree from IDC Herzliya in Government. He currently work on Ft. Hood, training intelligence systems to different military customers. 
“I hope to add my experiences to the council to guide their decision making and agenda process, enabling an open government that works towards growing Copperas Cove,” Eubank said. 
In the race for Copperas Cove city council Place 4, incumbent Jay Manning is being challenged by first-time candidate Benjamin Beck.
Beck, a native of Milford, Del., came to Central Texas via the Army in 2012 and was medically retired in early 2017.
He will be graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Management in the next six months and is currently a full-time military contractor working on West Fort Hood. Beck enjoys home brewing, gardening, fishing, and football season.
“I intend to help lead Copperas Cove and its City Council to make impactful and critical decisions for our one-of-a-kind, family-oriented town,” Beck said of his aspiration should he land Place 4 seat on the Copperas Cove city council. 
Beck is in a three-way race with fellow candidates, former councilman Matt Russell and Place 4 incumbent Jay Manning.
If the candidates in any of the races do not receive more than a 50 percent majority vote, there will be a runoff election for those races, according to the city charter.  
In the race for Place 5, Gary Kent and Dianne Yoho Campbell are running for the position currently held by Kirby Lack, who is term limited. 
The last day to register to vote prior to the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election is Monday, Oct. 7. 
Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 21 and continues through Friday, Nov. 2. 
The Leader-Press will be publishing a voting guide ahead of early voting.