NEWS
County’s two contested races going to runoff
Montague County had only two contested county primary races Tuesday and both will result in a May 22 runoff.
There was a strong voter turnout of 23.50 percent for Montague County in the party primaries Tuesday with 3,107 ballots cast out of the 13,222 registered voters.
Ginger Wall, elections administrator, said thing swent very well and while there will always be a few glitches it was a good election for the parties. Early voting for the May primary runoff will run May 14-18.
The only contested races for the county were on the Republican ticket. To win the election candidates must attain 50 percent of the vote plus one.
Two-term Justice of the Peace Two Karen Reynolds will do battle with retired law officer Kevin Benton in the runoff. Reynolds of Forestburg received 464 votes earning 29.46 percent, while Benton of Bowie bested her with 679 votes at 43.11 percent.
Ron Westbrook received 340 votes and Stacy Hudson 92 votes in the JP2 race.
It was a close race for county treasurer. Brandi Shipman and LaVonda Langford, both from Nocona will face off in the county treasurer runoff. Shipman, former elections administrator, received 1,025 votes or 38.38 percent, while Langford, who serves as assistant county treasurer for Treasurer Linda McGaughey who is retiring earned 852 votes or 31.90 percent.
Charley Lanier, Forestburg, received 794 votes or 29.73 percent of the ballots.
The nasty battle for State Senator in district, Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), member of the senate since a special election in 2001 was ousted in a decisive three-man race.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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