Reporter-News Archives

Monday, April 27, 1998

Area residents returning to polls Saturday

By ROY A. JONES II Regional Editor

It's been less than two weeks since Big Country voters cast ballots in primary runoff elections, but it's already time to return to the polls - this time to decide city and school board races.

More than 100 school districts and incorporated cities have races to settle Saturday, but it could have been worse.

Several dozen school boards and city councils took advantage of a relatively new law that enabled them to avoid the expense of holding an election if all races are uncontested.

In a few instances, too few candidates filed to fill the vacancies. But rather than pay to hold an election with little interest, officials decided to declare the unopposed candidates elected, then let the newly organized board fill the vacancies by appointment.

A breakdown of the Big County's elections shows at least 60 school districts and 37 cities have contested races, as well as four hospital district and two college trustee elections.

In addition to electing public officials, voters in at least two cities and one county will decide bond issues, while Gorman voters will decide two sales tax propositions.

Comanche County commissioners decided to take advantage of the potential turnout for city and/or school board elections in Comanche, Gustine and De Leon to call a countywide election on a jail expansion issue - also on Saturday.

The county is proposing to issue $1.9 million in general obligation bonds to pay for expanding the 48-bed Comanche County Jail by 96 beds. Approval of the bonds, commissioners say, would allow the county to hold more prisoners for the state of Wisconsin, which currently pays Comanche County about $250,000 a year for housing 20-25 prisoners - and wants to send more.

Take away the income the county receives for housing the Wisconsin prisoners, and commissioners would have to increase the tax rate by 7.7 cents to be able to make the payments on the bonds issued in 1989 to build the present 48-bed jail, County Judge John Weaver said.

Opponents don't want to enlarge the jail, arguing it would not be needed if Wisconsin decided to send its prisoners elsewhere.

In Jayton, there are no contested races on the school board ballot, but voters will decide a $3 million bond issue for renovations and equipping of school facilities.

Stephenville has contested races in both the city and school board elections, plus the city voters will decide the fate of a proposed $2.7 million bond issue that deeply affects the schools.

City officials say the bond issue is needed to improve and expand streets to and from the new Stephenville Junior High School that is to open in September 1999. The project would also add new water and sewer service along both streets.

Voters in the Stephenville school district approved a $19.7 million bond issue for school improvements last fall; a major part of that bond issue is for construction of the new junior high school.

Opponents say the $2.7 million in improvements are not needed now - if ever - and have urged voters to defeat the issue, as well as the incumbent mayor and City Council members who proposed it. Mayor John Pollan and council members Barbara Terrell, Marshall Shelton and Bill Corbin each have one opponent. The challengers are John Moser (for mayor), Kathy Wenmohs, Bill Muncey and William Stanley.

In Gorman, voters will decide one city commission race plus a sales tax issue. Two propositions are on the ballot to add one-half cent to the local sales tax, but if either passes, the intent is to support the Mainstreet Project of the Gorman Chamber of Commerce in an effort to improve the appearance of the city and encourage more businesses to locate there, Mayor Jack Simpson said.

If both propositions pass, the sales tax will be raised by one-half cent - not one cent - because of state limits, Simpson said.

If the issues passes and Gorman is accepted in the Mainstreet Program, a manager would be hired in November and would initiate work in 1999, he added.

Hospital board elections will be held in Runnels, Stonewall and Coleman counties, while voters in Snyder and Big Spring will also elect trustees for Western Texas College and for Howard College, respectively.