Municipal, school board, and bond elections were held across North Texas on Saturday, and voter turnout was relatively low.
In Dallas County, only 5.6% of registered voters exercised the franchise between early and in-person voting. Similarly, only 6.52% of Tarrant County voters cast a ballot.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas’ entire $1.25 billion bond package sailed through the election, with fewer than 40,000 voters signing off on the taxpayer spending.
Unofficial election results indicate that bond proposals did well across the metroplex. Voters approved bond packages in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Garland, Hutchins, and Rowlett.
Voters in Irving voted down the city’s single bond proposition by a wide margin, and voters in Lewisville split the difference, approving two of the four bond items city officials put to voters. Other than that, voters in Dallas County opted to assume billions of dollars in taxpayer debt to pay for the numerous projects outlined in their respective municipal bond packages. Voters in Cedar Hill ISD also signed off on two bond propositions.
Beyond Dallas County, bond packages promising facility improvements, security upgrades, and more were passed in Castleberry ISD, Everman ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, Lewisville ISD, and Mansfield ISD. However, voters in Mansfield ISD rejected three of the five bond propositions put to them by their school board.
In Tarrant County, it appeared the endorsement of Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare made a significant difference in a number of races.
“The results are in for Tarrant County. Congrats to our 3 new [Tarrant Appraisal District] Board members: Eric Morris, Callie Rigney for TAD Board of Directors, PL 2, and Matt Bryant. Congrats to [North Richland Hills] Mayor-Elect Jack McCarty, Councilmen-Elect Ricky Rodriguez for North Richland Hills City Council, Place 2, and Russ Mitchell. Congrats to Keller ISD Trustees Dr. Charles Randklev, Keller ISD Board of Trustees, Place 6, and Heather Washington, Keller ISD Board of Trustees Pl. 7 on their re-elections, Shannon Braun for [Grapevine-Colleyville ISD] School Board Place 1 on her re-election, Greg Will for Keller on his win for Keller City Council and Tim Raine for his win for Colleyville City Council,” O’Hare wrote on Facebook.
“All but 1 of the 12 candidates I endorsed won their races. Congrats to all. It was a great day for conservatives in Tarrant County!” he added.
Elsewhere in North Texas, Frisco residents voted against adopting a civil service and allowing firefighters to bargain collectively, The Dallas Morning News reported. The news outlet also reported that Anna ISD voters shot down a proposal for a new high school stadium with a price tag of $100 million.
