Early voting underway for city and school elections set for May 3

April 22, 2025

Early voting is officially underway for important elections across Liberty County, with races and propositions on the ballot that will shape the future of schools, city councils, and public infrastructure.

From April 22 through April 29, voters can cast their ballots ahead of Election Day on May 3. This year’s ballot includes important decisions — including the $95 million Tarkington ISD bond referendum and city council races across several municipalities.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s on the ballot and what voters need to know:

CITY COUNCIL RACES

City of Ames

Mayor – Barbara Domain (unopposed)
Council Position 3 – Eddie White (unopposed)
Council Position 5 – Reuben C. Williams, Audrey Harrison, Tiffany Burgos

City of Daisetta

Council Position 2 – Ryan Taylor, Joseph Ballard
Council Position 4 – Kelsey Norris (unopposed)

City of Dayton

Council Position 4 – Tonya Smikal, Don McDaniel
Council Position 5 – Alvin Burress, Valorie Burton

City of Liberty

Council Member at Large – Bruce Bell, Trent LaFour, Libby Simonson, Nick Dennis, Debbie Duggar
(Voters can choose up to three candidates)

SCHOOL BOARD RACES

Cleveland ISD

Trustee Position 4 – Pauline M. Johnson, Kairos Sanchez Medina
Trustee Position 5 – Jessica Allen, Amanda Sandoval Brooks

Devers ISD

Trustee Position 1 – Michelle Carr, Daniel Barnes
Trustee Position 2 – Sandi Zbranek, Tommy McIntosh
Trustee Position 3 – Reid Williams (unopposed)

Tarkington ISD Bond Referendum

Proposition A – $50 million for safety and security improvements, renovations at multiple campuses, new buses, and wastewater treatment upgrades
Proposition B – $45 million for the construction of a new elementary school

CITY OF CLEVELAND – CHARTER AMENDMENTS

With no contested races for mayor or council, Cleveland voters will decide on 12 charter propositions. These include updates to boundary procedures, disannexation policies, voting rights for the mayor, term lengths, residency requirements, and salary references — all aimed at aligning the charter with current state law and modern governance practices.

Proposition A – Extension of Boundaries: Amends Section 1.03 to align boundary extension procedures with current state law, removing outdated references to the Texas Local Government Code.

Proposition B – Disannexation Procedures: Adds a new Section 1.04 to establish procedures and requirements for disannexation, ensuring consistency with state law.

Proposition C – Creation of Council Position 6: Amends Section 3.01 to create a new Council Position 6, to be elected at the regular municipal election in May 2026.

Proposition D – Mayor’s Voting Rights: Amends Section 3.01(b) to grant the Mayor the right to vote on all matters following the regular municipal election in May 2026.

Proposition E – Term Lengths for Mayor and Council Members: Adds new Sections 3.01(c) and 3.01(d) to increase the terms of office for the Mayor and Council Members from two to three years, starting with officers elected in May 2025.

Proposition F – Council Compensation References: Amends Section 3.04 to remove outdated dollar amounts related to Mayor and Council Member salaries.

Proposition G – Meeting Location Notices: Amends Section 3.08 to remove the requirement for newspaper publication of alternate meeting locations, where allowed by state law.

Proposition H – Clarification of Roles: Amends Sections 3.07(a), 3.07(b), 4.01(c), and 4.02 to clarify inconsistencies and align the defined roles of City Council and the City Manager with actual practices.

Proposition I – City Manager Residency Requirement: Amends Section 4.01(c)(6) to authorize the City Council to waive the City Manager’s residency requirement with a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Proposition J – Budget Preparation Procedures: Amends Section 6.02 to ensure the City Manager prepares and files the budget in accordance with state law, removing duplicative and outdated provisions.

Proposition K – Charter Review Commission Updates: Amends Section 8.05 to provide for two alternates on the Charter Review Commission and remove outdated year references.

Proposition L – Revisions: Amends multiple sections to make non-substantive revisions, including:

Section 1.02: Adds Montgomery and San Jacinto counties to the city’s boundary description.
Section 2.02: Updates references to align with current Texas laws.
Section 3.02: Removes outdated eligibility disqualifications.
Section 3.05: Clarifies the timing of the State of the City address.
Section 3.07(p): Removes outdated references to inspections of dairies, slaughter pens, and slaughterhouses.

LIBERTY COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 15

Voters within the proposed district will also weigh in on five propositions concerning the creation and funding of a new utility district, including up to $88 million in bonds for water, wastewater, roads, and operational infrastructure.