Area ballots yield mix of new faces to most governing bodies
Voting has concluded for the Saturday election, and results are in for the Ranch Cities as residents voted on propositions, school board and city council positions.
Residents voted down Pilot Point ISD Proposition A, with 842 against and 539 for the $295 million bond proposal for two new schools and additional campus renovations.
The bond was proposed to account for the area’s rapid growth, and, if approved, it would have raised the I&S tax rate from approximately $0.20 to $0.50 per $100 of valuation, PPISD CFO Brittany Floyd shared at the February board meeting.
“The district is going to have to come up with Plan B in the interim as we regroup and look at how can we look at and plan for growth with the community to make sure that we’re planning for our future,” Superintendent Dr. Shannon Fuller said.
Out of the 6,811 Pilot Point ISD registered voters, it was a record number of people who headed to the polls, she said.
“I just champion everyone to continue to be involved and to get to know about what’s coming for the future of Pilot Point and Pilot Point ISD so that we can make decisions together to really meet the needs of our community and students,” Fuller said.
The Pilot Point ISD board will also see a change, as Place 2 incumbent Amy McEvoy lost to Mark Harpool, who received 743 votes to McEvoy’s 266 and Kirsten Peoples’ 196 votes.
It was a narrow race for the Aubrey ISD Place 7 to decide who would replace long-sitting board member and Vice President Colleen Dow.
There were four candidates competing, with Emily Doramus winning the election with 238 votes, Dustin Clay coming in close behind with 215, followed by Timothy Frarer with 27 votes and Fred Matthew with 24 votes.
The town of Providence Village held a special election to replace Place 4, held by Dustin Clay, and complete his term until it expires in 2027.
The three candidates who ran were Jason Lucas, who received 121 votes, and Blake Marts and Bryant Wilson, who received 63 and 61 votes, respectively.
In the Providence Village election, the winning candidate must get over 50% of the votes.
Because that requirement was not met, there will be a run-off election between Lucas and Marts on June 13.
Also on the ballot were changes to eight charter propositions, all of which were approved.
“Proposition A: Amending the Charter to provide term limits,” received 210 votes for and 63 against.
“Proposition B. Amending the Charter to provide for the removal of a Council Member for absences without excuse from 25% of a regular meeting during any 12-month period,” received 259 for and 12 against.
“Proposition C. Amending the Charter to provide for additional amendments to Section 3.06 concerning the filling of vacancies by appointment,” received 252 for and 19 against.
“Proposition D. Amending the Charter to add subsection (D) to Section 3.08, prohibiting Town Council members from holding any other public office or employment with any other municipality located wholly or partly in Denton County,” received 205 for and 66 against.
“Proposition E. Amending the Charter by requiring petitions for initiative, referendum, and recall to be supported by a number of signatures equal to 25% of the qualified voters of the Town of Providence Village,” received 218 for and 48 against.
“Proposition F. Amending the Charter to require a committee of ten (10) qualifi ed voters to commence a drive for signatures to support petitions for initiative, referendum, recall, or charter amendment elections,” received 223 for and 39 against.
“Proposition G. Amending the Charter to allow future audits by members of the same accounting firm,” received 179 for and 88 against.
“So [Proposition G], it’s going to provide a more consistent and inexpensive way to keep our audits,” Mayor Linda Inman said.
“Proposition H. Amending the Charter to require a number of signatures to support petitions to amend the charter consistent with state law,” received 234 for and 35 against.
“It makes it where the residents have to be involved with it, and so it’s going to be resident-led instead of just an outsider coming in trying to tell us what we need to do,” Inman said.
There are about 3,500 registered voters in the town of Providence Village, and fewer than 300 residents voted in the May election.
Inman shared that the turnout dropped by over 100 voters compared to last year’s election.
“I’d like to see more voters, especially those who tend to complain a lot, to get involved in the process and running for elections and voting and be a part of the process, not just when something happens you don’t like,” Inman said.
In Tioga, City Council Place 5, long-time incumbent Heather Nesmith will retain her position on the council after receiving 130 votes, while her opponent, Patty Wheeler, received 29 votes.
