AREA ELECTION RESULTS: BELLVILLE ISD BOND & BURLESON CO. ASSISTANCE DISTRICT FAIL, ONE VOTE DIFFERENCE FOR LA GRANGE CITY COUNCIL
City council elections, school board races and various propositions were voted on around the area on Saturday.
In Austin County, voters rejected Bellville ISD’s $49.5 million bond proposition 630 – 693. The bond vote, which followed another unsuccessful attempt in November 2021, would have funded the construction of a new junior high school, transitioning Bellville Junior High into an intermediate school, and performing repairs and renovations at other campuses. Had the bond passed, it was projected to create a 1 cent increase for the district’s Interest & Sinking tax rate.
Residents also said no by a tally of 111 - 190 to a proposition for Austin County’s Emergency Services District No. 1, located around the San Felipe area. The proposal would have authorized a maximum ad valorem tax rate of 6 cents per $100 valuation to support the ESD.
In Burleson County, a proposition to create a County Assistance District (CAD) failed 224 – 239. The CAD would have levied a 1.5 percent sales and use tax rate in unincorporated areas to support road and drainage improvements. Voters also rejected the CAD during an election in May 2022.
In Snook, Frank Fields will take the helm as the new mayor, defeating Linda Adair 62 – 14 for the seat of John See, who did not run for re-election. On the Snook School Board, two at-large seats will be filled by Adam Janac and Joel Withem, who obtained 163 votes and 93 votes, respectively. Fellow candidate Brittany Thigpen received 90 votes. Meanwhile, Dana Yezak defeated David Sebesta 136 – 83 to serve out the remainder of Leslie Groce’s unexpired term.
The race for La Grange City Council – Ward 4 was razor-thin, as a single vote was the deciding margin between incumbent Arthur Bosque and Chris Jernigan. Bosque will retain his seat after a vote of 28 – 27.
The Round Top Town Council had five candidates running for three at-large seats. Judith Vincent received the most votes at 49, followed by incumbent Amy Bone and Jeanette Burger with 35 votes each. Cameron LaPee received 25 votes and Karen Duddlesten took in 17.
In Giddings, three seats on the council will be filled by incumbent Jacob Janda, who got 138 votes, challenger Kevin Rinn, who received 137, and incumbent Alan Casey, who had 131 votes. Three others on the ballot included Jason Haas, who took in 86 votes, incumbent Frank Castro, who tallied 72 votes, and Randie Maass, who received 42 votes. On the Giddings School Board, incumbents Roy Kruemcke Jr. and Jason Locke will keep their seats after receiving 243 votes and 240 votes. Challenger Torie Morrow had 204 votes.
On the Navasota City Council, the Position 5 seat of Grant Holt was won by James Harris, who defeated Patty Tokoly 329 – 131. The Navasota School Board race between incumbent Amy Jarvis and Mark Gremillion resulted in Jarvis’ victory, 423 – 148.
There were two races for the Hempstead City Council. For Position 4, Karon Neal won the seat with 414 votes, compared to incumbent Raul Villarreal’s 254 and Patricia Lynn Mosley’s 41. Nora Hodges secured 429 votes to Barbara Haffelfinger’s 281 to win the Position 5 seat of Chase Murray. On the Hempstead School Board, challenger Hoveta Godines-Mayes defeated incumbent Stephanie Bush 407 – 305 to win the seat.