Voters around Northeast Texas said yes to bond proposals, gave a thumbs-up for incumbents and were split on alcohol sales in May 11 elections.
Without any county-level offices up for grabs, many Northeast Texas voters stayed away from polls on election day, but those who cast their ballots were able to approve some major bond initiatives for their communities.
Paris approves $45m water, sewer fixes
Paris voters overwhelmingly approved a $45 million bond for repairing the city's water and sewer lines. The bond passed with 91.86 percent of the vote. Of the 946 votes cast, 869 were for the proposition. Only a little more than 7 percent of eligible voters participated in the May 11 election in Paris.
In the city's one contested council race, District 5 representative Matt Frierson was re-elected after defeating challenger Danny Booth with 77.36 percent of the vote to Booth’s 22.64 percent. There were 106 total votes cast in the District 5 election.
Greenville gives YMCA go-ahead
In Greenville, voters approved a bond toward the construction of a new YMCA and event center (934 for to 833 against), as well as a bond funding road repairs (1,247 for to 495 against).
Incumbent city councilman Dan Perkins defeated challenger Tyson Cox by a margin of 456-389 to retain his seat in Place 1. All proposed amendments to Greenville's city charter also passed.
Sulphur Springs turns over council seat
One Sulphur Springs city council incumbent retained his seat and another lost his in Saturday's election. Incumbent Freddie Taylor defeated challenger Charles Oxford by a 67 percent to 32 percent margin for Place 4. In Place 5 voting, Emily Glass unseated Gary Spraggins by a 52 percent to 47 percent margin according to unofficial results published by the Sulphur Springs News.
Mount Vernon says yes to alcohol sales
Mount Vernon voters narrowly approved two alcohol-sales measures that, once in effect, will end Franklin County's status as one of the last remaining dry counties in East Texas.
The proposition allowing the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption passed 258-230, while the sale of mixed drinks in restaurants passed 265-221.
Mount Vernon city council incumbents Saundra Dunn, Jeff Briscoe and Kenneth Shelton all defended their seats against challenger Eddie Turner in the at-large contest for three places.
Campbell approves road repair, says no to alcohol sales
In Campbell, a measure to use some sales tax revenues to maintain city streets passed 73-24. A proposition to allow the sales of alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption was rejected 65-32.
Hunt County small towns select city officials
In Celeste, Fred Reynolds, James Seigler were elected to two city council seats, while challenger Teddy Cole was unsuccessful.
Lone Oak voters chose Shirley Stogner for mayor by a two-vote margin (20-18) over Mona Collins. The race for Lone Oak city council Place 5 was even closer, with Douglas E. Williams Jr. defeating Gordon Galloway by a single vote (20-19).
In Quinlan, Donny Brock defeated Misti Jones 91-80 to win the mayoral election. In two contested city council races, Brandon Frazier bested Don Gray 96-76 to take Place 4, while Charlie Thompson slipped past Dave Arndt 86-83 to take Place 5.
Union Valley voters selected Craig Waskow and John Oznick as city commissioners.
And in Wolfe City, Barbara Woodruff routed Jeff McDaniel 128-30 in the mayoral race, while Jamie Moore and Rita Dodson won city council places.
Josephine, Lowry Crossing go different ways on alcohol vote
In eastern Collin County, alcohol-sales initiatives had very different results in the communities of Lowry Crossing and Josephine.
Lowry Crossing voters defeated a measure allowing the sales of all alcoholic beverages by a 168-108 margin.
In Josephine, voters approved the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption with a 107-39 tally.
Fannin County communities choose council members
In Ladonia, Discha Threlkeld, Cliff Isaacs and Christopher Burch won the race for the city's three alderman positions. Leonard voters put Larry Thompson, Steven Bolin and Sue Hale on their city council. And Savoy voters chose Steve Perkins, Denise Pugh and Clete Stogsdill for city council.
Fate, Rowlett select city council, Rowlett approves amendments
In Fate's two contested city council races, Lorne Megyesi narrowly defeated Jim Thornhill 122-119 for the Place 1 seat, while Cameron Cowan took a more comfortable 158-85 victory over Forest Murley for the Place 5 position.
Rowlett voters approved amendments to the city charter and also chose three city council members in contested races. Tammy Dana-Bashain defeated Pauline Dedrick and Pam Bell to take the Place 2 seat. Debby Bobbitt bested Arian "Brownie" Sherrill in the Place 4 contest. Michael Gallops finished ahead of John Spor to win the Place 6 council position.
Delta County quietly becomes last dry county in East Texas
In a footnote to the May 11 election, the success of alcohol-sales propositions in Mount Vernon and the Piney Woods town of Tatum left Delta County the last dry county in East Texas.
Mount Vernon's approval of alcohol sales took Franklin County off the shrinking list of Texas dry counties, while Tatum's approval of alcohol sales means that Panola County is no longer dry.
That leaves Delta County the lone East Texas county allowing no public alcohol sales. All the rest of Texas' remaining dry counties are in the northwestern part of the state in the Panhandle-South Plains region.
