While there were no national or statewide individual races on the ballot this year, folks across the state, including Parker County, had plenty of items on which to cast votes this year.
Topping the list for local folks was a $130 million transportation bond put forth by Parker County commissioners. As of press time, while results were still unofficial, the bond seemed to be comfortably on its way to passing with 59% of the vote for compared to 41% against.
County-wide road work in the bond will include a total of 35 projects:
The financial breakdown of the bond includes:
Statistics presented to support the bond package included:
In promoting the bond, Parker County Judge Pat Deen and other officials noted local transportation funding will support growth; state and federal partnerships will create more leverage for transportation improvement opportunities; regional partnerships will bring together the North Central Texas Council of Governments, municipalities and school districts; and it would expedite the safety projects in support of #EndTheStreakTX, a project designed to end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.
“It was critical that the Parker County Transportation Bond pass. It’s a big step in the right direction in helping alleviate the infrastructure challenges we face as one of the top 10 fastest growing counties in the country,” Aledo Mayor Nick Stanley said. “We have been working for months with county officials to ensure they fully understand the needs of our growing community and how this funding can support transportation projects in the City of Aledo.”
Parker County residents approved 13 of the 14 state amendments on the ballot. The breakdown:
Amendment 1, protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management. 89% for, 11% against.
Amendment 2, authorizing a local option exemption from property taxes for child-care facilities. 61% for, 39% against.
Amendment 3, prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family. 84% for, 16% against.
Amendment 4, raise the homestead property tax exemption to $100,000 for property owners under age 65; raise the homestead exemption to $110,000 for those 65 or older; temporarily limit maximum value of property for purpose of property taxes in a tax year for commercial, mineral and non-homestead residential properties under $5 million; compress school district maintenance and operation taxes an additional 10.7 cents per $100; raise the amount of money a business can make before being subjected to a franchise tax; requires three new appraisal board members be elected in counties over 75,000 in population. 93% for, 7% against.
Amendment 5, relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy. 56% for, 44% against.
Amendment 6, creates the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in the state. 76% for, 24% against.
Amendment 7, providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities (grid reliability). 71% for 29% against.
Amendment 8, creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects. 61% for, 39% against.
Amendment 9, authorizes the state legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to retired teachers. 78% for, 22% against.
Amendment 10, authorizes the legislature to exempt from property taxes equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen the state's medical supply chain. 57% for, 43% against.
Amendment 11, authorizes the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by property taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities. 57% for, 43% against.
Amendment 12, abolishing the office of county treasurer in Galveston County. 60% for, 40% against.
Amendment 13, increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges to 79 years old. 35% for, 65% against.
Amendment 14, provides for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks. 72% for, 28% against.
Elsewhere around the county:
All four Morningstar Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 2 propositions were approved by 100%.
James Synowsky won the Dennis mayoral race running unopposed.
Lawrence Castillo was elected town commissioner in Dennis with 49% of the vote, while Brad Jones received 26% and Mike "Zig" Ziegler 25%.
In the three school bond elections, only Azle passed with 51% of the vote for and 49% against. Springtown's bond was defeated by 57% to 43% margin, and Poolville narrowly lost 50.26% to 49.74%, or 285 votes against and 282 for.
Also unofficial, here are the statewide results concerning the amendments:
Amendment 1, 79% for, 21% against.
Amendment 2, 65% for, 35% against.
Amendment 3, 68% for, 32% against.
Amendment 4, 83% for, 17% against.
Amendment 5, 64% for, 36% against.
Amendment 6, 78% for 22% against.
Amendment 7, 65% for, 35% against.
Amendment 8, 69% for, 31% against.
Amendment 9, 84% for, 16% against.
Amendment 10, 55% for, 45% against.
Amendment 11, 63% for, 37% against.
Amendment 12, 53% for, 47% against.
Amendment 13, 37% for, 63% against.
Amendment 14, 77% for, 23% against.
In the race for the unexpired term for state representative in District 2 in Harris County, Republican Brent Money received the most votes, 32%. Republican Jill Dutton was next with 25% and Republican Heath Hyde collected 22%. Democrat Kristen Washington received 11% of the vote.
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