Liberty County voters approve alcohol sales in Pct. 5

Nov. 4 was Election Day across the state of Texas, with voters deciding on 17 statewide constitutional amendments, a local referendum, and several special district elections throughout Liberty County.

While there were no major local races on the ballot, one item drew particular attention among residents in Liberty County Pct. 5 — a proposal to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages. Voters in the precinct overwhelmingly approved the measure, with 67.95 percent in favor. Of the total votes cast, 865 supported the proposition, while 408 opposed it.

The ballot language read: “The legal sale of malt beverages and wine for off-premise consumption in the Liberty County Justice of the Peace Pct. 5.”

According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), “malt beverages” include beer and ale — any fermented beverage containing 0.5 percent or more alcohol by volume made primarily from malt and hops. The new rule allows stores and other retailers in Pct. 5 to sell beer and wine for consumption off the premises.

With its passage, the measure clears the way for local businesses and retailers in Precinct 5 to apply for permits to sell malt beverages and wine for off-premise consumption, a change that could have both economic and social impacts in the area.

Pct. 5 includes much of the Tarkington area.

All propositions passed in Liberty County

Liberty County voters joined Texans statewide in considering 17 constitutional amendments. All 17 propositions passed locally, though by varying margins.

• Proposition 1: The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System. — 4,080 for, 2,181 against
• Proposition 2: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust. — 5,216 for, 1,109 against

• Proposition 3: The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony. — 5,014 for, 1,304 against
• Proposition 4: The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue. — 3,848 for, 2,395 against
• Proposition 5: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail. — 4,939 for, 1,309 against
• Proposition 6: The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions. — 4,409 for, 1,769 against
• Proposition 7: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected. — 5,785 for, 535 against
• Proposition 8: The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift. — 5,560 for, 778 against
• Proposition 9: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income. — 4,938 for, 1,313 against
• Proposition 10: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire. — 5,876 for, 444 against
• Proposition 11: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled. — 5,480 for, 873 against
• Proposition 12: The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct. — 5,077 for, 1,160 against
• Proposition 13: The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000. — 5,535 for, 818 against
• Proposition 14: The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue. — 4,092 for, 2,184 against
• Proposition 15: The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children. — 5,534 for, 814 against
• Proposition 16: The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen. — 5,732 for, 632 against
• Proposition 17: The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements. — 4,870 for, 1,391 against

NOTE: Statewide election results for the 17 propositions are not available at this time.

Other races decided

In addition to the statewide ballot items, several special district elections were decided in Liberty County.

Liberty County Municipal Management District No. 2

• Proposition A through F each passed unanimously, with two votes in favor and none against.
• Directors elected were Lloyd Aaron Irvin (3 votes), Joshua Gilman (2), Shane Patrick Faucheux (2), Bobby Burnett Hillier (2), and Lonnie Bruce Barbre (2).

Plum Creek Management District No. 1C

• Proposition A: 2 for, 1 against
• Proposition B: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition C: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition D: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition E: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition F: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition G: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition H: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition I: 1 for, 2 against
• Director positions were as follows: Trevor Konopka (1), Andrew McLoughlin (2), Ian Bryant (1), Jose Pedroza Gonzalez (2), and Teri Yates (1).

Freedom Trail Municipal Utility District of Liberty County

• Proposition A: 3 for, 1 against
• Proposition B: 2 for, 2 against
• Proposition C: 2 for, 1 against
• Proposition D: 2 for, 1 against
• Proposition E: 1 for, 2 against
• Proposition F: 2 for, 1 against
• Proposition G: 1 for, 2 against
• Director positions were as follows: Patrick Hoang (2), Brandon Colondres (1), Luke Lekowitz (2), Jamie Heiland (2), and Ashley Leistad (1).