Voters in the City of Rockdale and Rockdale ISD will decide contested races Saturday while for the second time in a year’s time span, Thorn-dale ISD residents have the fate of a multi-million dollar bond issue in their hands.
Early voting ended Tuesday with 184 casting ballots for the city and 232 for the school board. Those are mostly the same voters.
Thorndale ISD had a heavy turnout with 313 voting.
CITY—In a way, it’s a history-making city council election. For the first time in 34 years no incumbents filed for re-election in a regular election cycle.
Both east-ward incumbent Willie Phillips—the council’s senior member in terms of service—and west ward Colby Fisher, passed up the ballot.
Sharon Cloud, Richard Coppedge and Tim Ramey are competing for Phillips’ east ward seat. A runoff is possible. See story, page 2A.
Jason Barcak and Monique Gebhart are candidates for the west ward position being vacated by Fisher.
ROCKDALE ISD—On the school board ballot, Place 7 incumbent Julia Cardona is challenged by Ryan Warner.
Three trustees are unopposed for new terms, Raymon Puente in Place 1, Troy Zinn in Place 2 and Charles Miles in Place 4.
TISD BONDS—Thorndale’s has the big bond vote and it comes on the heels of TISD voters rejecting a $12.5-million bond package by a vote of 229-168 last May.
Trustees gathered information and proposed a new package but with a major difference. Voters don’t have to accept or reject the whole bond issue but may “pick and choose,” voting for any, all or none.
Supt. Adam Ivy said the 2018 effort is the result of months of in put from TISD residents following last year’s election.
“We wanted them to tell us what they didn’t like about it and incorporated what we heard from them into this package,” he said.
PROPOSALS—Here are the options:
• Proposition A ($9,870,000)—New, two-story high school with 19 classrooms.
At elementary, new secure entry, office space renovation, new connecting corridor to cafeteria.
Convert current middle school into fourth and fifth-grade building, renovate current office space into special education classroom, three rooms become cafeteria seating.
Current high school becomes middle school. Library and office space swap locations, renovation.
Renovate cafeteria and expand into adjacent boiler room.
New asphalt parking lot with 16 additional spaces.
Proposition B ($2,390,000)—Expand and renovate current band hall.
Complete renovation of current vocational ag/CTE Building.
Install heating/AC in middle school gym, remodel west end concessions, restrooms and more.
Enclose elementary pavilion, install heating/air conditioning.
• Proposition C ($680,000)—Resurface existing track.
Add parking lot with 50 spaces behind home bleachers.
Land purchase for future construction.
PRICE TAGS—According to the TISD, passage of A and B only would increase the tax rate by 41.77 cents, A-only by 31 cents, B-only by 7.42 cents and C-only by 2.62 cents. If only B and C pass the rate would go up 9.54 cents.
If A and C pass, the tax increase would be 34.09 cents.
Should all three pass, and the tax rate increase 44.85 cents the burden on a $100,000 home in the Thorndale ISD would increase by $336.36, according to the Thorndale ISD.
(That figure includes the impact of the districts $25,000 homestead exemption).
MORE RACES—It’s a joint city-school election and here are the other races Thorndale voters can start deciding on Monday:
• TISD school board—Incumbents Ann Glenn and Adam Fisher, along with challenger Trey Gilchrist, in a three-person race for two positions. Chad Martinka is unopposed for the remainder of an unexpired term.
Thorndale City—Mayor Mara McDowell opposed by George Galbreath; Sam Pickett (incumbent), Allen Hejl, Steven Zuehlke, Ashley (Towery) Moehling and Wayne Green in race for three at-large slots.
MILANO—Milano ISD voters will cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in the MISD Administration Building.
Incumbents John Yakesch and Shawn Walton, along with Amanda Honeycutt Cain are in a three-person chase seeking two full terms on the board.
Incumbent Michael Andrews, has filed for a partial term.
There’s no Milano City Council election as incumbent Edward Lenz was the only candidate filing, even though two terms expire.
That leaves the city council to fill the one vacant position.
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