Liberty County voters decide city council, school board races

Voters across Liberty County cast their ballots on May 3 in local elections that will shape the direction of school boards and city councils. Another important election on the ballot was the $95 million Tarkington ISD bond referendum.

As of 9:50 p.m., the results were finally made available. These include election day and early voting.

CITY COUNCIL RACES

City of Ames

• Mayor – Barbara Domain (unopposed) – 12 early, 39 election day – total 51
• Council Position 3 – Eddie White (unopposed) – 12 early, 39 election day – total 51
• Council Position 5
  Reuben C. Williams – 2 early election, 5 election day – 7 total
  Audrey Harrison – 3 early, 14 election day – 17 total
  Tiffany Burgos – 12 early, 27 election day – 39 total

City of Daisetta

• Council Position 2
  Ryan Taylor – 7 early, 57 election day – 64 total
  Joseph Ballard – 3 early, 2 election day – 5 total
• Council Position 4 – Kelsey Norris (unopposed) – 9 early, 55 election day – 64 total

City of Dayton

• Council Position 4
  Tonya Smikal – 194 early, 52 election day – 246 total
  Don McDaniel – 85 early, 31 election day – 116 total
• Council Position 5 –
  Alvin Burress – 215 early, 66 election day – 281 total
  Valorie Burton – 69 early, 19 election day – 88 total

City of Liberty

• Council Member at Large
  Bruce Bell – 117 early, 85 election day – 202 total
  Trent LaFour – 36 early, 23 election day – 59 total
  Libby Simonson – 100 early, 49 election day – 149 total
  Nick Dennis – 123 early, 56 election day – 179 total
  Debbie Duggar – 169 early, 97 election day – 266 total
  (Voters can choose up to three candidates)

SCHOOL BOARD RACES

Cleveland ISD

• Trustee Position 4
  Pauline M. Johnson – 106 early, 152 election day – 258 total
  Kairos Sanchez Medina – 37 early, 51 election day – 88 total
• Trustee Position 5
  Jessica Allen – 74 early, 120 election day – 194 total
  Amanda Sandoval Brooks – 78 early, 85 election day – 163 total

Devers ISD

• Trustee Position 1
  Michelle Carr – 22 early, 57 election day – 79 total
  Daniel Barnes – 48 early, 81 election day – 129 total
• Trustee Position 2
  Sandi Zbranek – 32 early, 80 election day – 112 total
  Tommy McIntosh – 40 early, 64 election day – 104 total
• Trustee Position 3 – Reid Williams (unopposed) – 50 early, 95 election day – 145 total

Tarkington ISD Bond Referendum

• Proposition A – $50 million for safety and security improvements, renovations at multiple campuses, new buses, and wastewater treatment upgrades 
  For – 110 early, 171 election day – 281 total
  Against – 430 early, 264 election day – 694 total
• Proposition B – $45 million for the construction of a new elementary school
  For – 98 early, 151 election day – 249 total
  Against – 444 early, 279 election day – 723 total

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.
For – 78 early, 111 election day – 189 total
Against – 35 early, 44 election day – 79 total

Proposition B – Disannexation Procedures: Adds a new Section 1.04 to establish procedures and requirements for disannexation, ensuring consistency with state law.
For – 83 early, 116 election day – 199 total
Against – 28 early, 38 election day – 66 total

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.
For – 79 early, 123 election day – 202 total
Against – 36 early, 38 election day – 74 total

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.
For – 77 early, 117 election day – 194 total
Against – 40 early, 43 against – 83 total

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.
For – 73 early, 106 election day – 179 total
Against – 41 early, 55 election day – 96 total

Proposition F – Council Compensation References: Amends Section 3.04 to remove outdated dollar amounts related to Mayor and Council Member salaries.
For – 72 early, 100 election day – 172 total
Against – 39 early, 57 election day – 96 total

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.
For – 59 early, 79 election day – 138 total
Against – 50 early, 79 election day – 129 total

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.
For – 95 early, 135 election day – 230 total
Against – 19 early, 19 election day – 38 total

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.
For – 40 early, 69 election day – 109 total
Against – 75 early, 92 election day – 167 total

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.
For – 92 early, 136 election day – 228 total
Against – 22 early, 23 election day – 45 total

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.
For – 87 early, 126 election day – 213 total
Against – 26 early, 29 election day – 55 total

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.
  
  For – 85 early, 104 election day – 189 total
  Against – 32 early, 56 election day – 88 total

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.

For A, B, C, D and E:
For – 1 early voting, 0 election day – 1 total
Against – 1 early voting, 0 election day – 1 total