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Five local races were decided Tuesday in the April municipal election, headlined by 62.2% voter approval of a $2.95 million school bond issue in Houston.
The centerpiece of the bond measure is a new eight-lane rubber track, including lighting, fencing and soil stabilization, at a cost of just under $2 million. Superintendent Dr. Justin Copley has said the track will be open to the public and that he hopes to host community events such as Relay For Life and the Houston Senior Center walk-a-thon there.
The remaining roughly $1 million addresses other district needs: $615,000 will fully retire existing lease financing on the Piney River Technical Center and H.A.L.O. buildings, which the district says will free up approximately $130,000 per year for educational programs and operational expenses. An additional $60,000 will go toward new siding on the fine arts building, while $40,000 will fund handrails, painting and stucco repair in the middle school gymnasium.
Notably, the bond will not raise taxes — instead extending the district’s existing levy from 2039 to 2046.
Local boards remain the same
Incumbents Darren Ice (903), Tressie Neugebauer (869) and Dustin Hartman (876) received enough votes to top challenger Bob Wolfe (402) and earn three-year terms on the Houston board of education.
Joleen Durham defeated George Sholtz 1,262-659 to retain her seat as a Texas County Memorial Hospital trustee. The term is five years.
Don Romines topped JD Hatcher 108-87 to get another two years as a Houston City Council Ward III alderman.
Brad Evans defeated Luke Woolsey 1,050-363 to retain his seat as a District 1 representative on the Texas County Emergency Services 911 board.
Voter turnout
This April, 2,036 of 17,271 registered voters — 11.8% — cast ballots, falling well short of Texas County Clerk Peggy Seyler’s 20% prediction and below the 16% turnout in the April 2025 election.
Polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The final results were tabulated at 8:06 p.m.
