NEWS
Mayor’s shuffle: Burris named to fill unexpired term
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Gaylynn Burris, defeated in last November’s mayoral election by 81 votes, took the oath of office Monday night to fill out the unexpired term of Mayor Bill Miller who resigned on April 30.
Burris was selected by the Bowie City Council after she was the lone person to apply during the week-long period to fill the post. The council scheduled a called meeting for Monday night to interview candidates and select a new mayor.
The city council has been in upheaval since Miller resigned on April 30 less than six months into office. His resignation was accepted at the May 11 meeting and the council set up the process to fill the post.
As per the city charter, the council had to fill the vacancy within 30 days or schedule a special election. If an appointment was not made an election was automatic.
Mayor Pro Tem Jason Love told the council at the May 11 meeting he felt “more suited” to serve as a councilman and was not interested in taking the mayor’s term.
Late Friday as the called meeting was being posted, Councilor Thomas Kent submitted his resignation in protest of Burris being considered. He stated in his resignation that Burris had been voted out so she should not be eligible for reappointment to the same office.
Kent, elected to his precinct position in November 2018, said his resignation created a “double vacancy” within the council and therefore a special election was necessary.
The city charter does state when there is more than one vacancy at any one time a special election shall be called within 30 days. However, city officials obtained multiple legal opinions about this question to assure appropriate action was taken.
Che Rotramble, city attorney, said when an officer submits a resignation, immediate or future, the vacancy occurs on the date the resignation is accepted by the council or on the eighth day after the date of its receipt by the appropriate authority, whichever occurs earlier. The Texas Election Code, Sec. 201.023 states the same.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioner’s Court reluctantly returned money to the state connected to Senate Bill 22 in fiscal 2024.
During Monday’s regular session, County Auditor Charley Lanier explained the three transactions. SB 22 provided funding for prosecutor offices to assist with paying staff, and in the sheriff’s office for staff and equipment.
If all the money was not spent it had to be returned. Lanier explained the fund was approved in 2024, but it arrived after the fiscal year began and commissioners did not want to spend any of until the funds actually arrived in county coffers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Saint Jo City Council had a brief meeting on June 17.
The 2026-27 budgets for appraisal and tax collections from the Montague County Tax Appraisal District were approved. The tax collection budget faces a 3.71% increase and 2.2% in the appraisal budget.
The city’s payment for tax collections will go from $1,305 for the year down slightly from $1,445 last year. The appraisal portion for Saint Jo will be $9,526, up from $9,361 in 2026.
A municipal election for Nov. 3 was called. Places open on the ballot will be mayor, and the places filled by Melissa McPherson and Jack Dunn, who was appointed to fill out a term.
The council approved a resolution to apply for grants for water infra structure improvements through the Texas Water Development Board. The city is working with engineers from Corlett, Probst and Boyd of Wichita Falls on a proposed project.
The 60th anniversary Jim Bowie Days Celebration opened on June 20th with a full day of activities focusing on sports and a barbecue cookoff.
Festivities continue throughout the week highlight by rodeo, youth rodeo, kid’s activities and Pioneer Court. The second annual Smokedown BBQ Cookout began on Friday night with the steak and beans contests. Three other categories for chicken ribs and brisket followed on Saturday. There were 27 teams, four more than last year.
Conducted by Outlaw BBQ, the grand champion was Vinny McNamara, with 36 points. Steve Cumbie was reserve grand champion with 26 points.
Read about all the weekend’s winners complete with many photos in your Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – The first annual pickleball tourney drew 17 teams. Teams greet each other before they start play (Photo by Barbara Green0
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