With final unofficial results coming in from the Taylor County Election Office, Abilene has decided on a new City Council member in the wake of Saturday’s election.
Voters in south Abilene also voted to choose two trustees to serve in Place 4 and Place 5 on the Wylie ISD School Board.
In the City Council race for Place 4, no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote. Benjamin Bailey came out in the lead with 1,122 votes, representing 32.14 percent of those who voted.
After him was Tammy Fogle with 924 votes and 26.47 percent of the vote. Behind her, Allison Carroll came in with 890 votes and 25.49 percent of those who voted. Rich Lyles finished fourth with 555 votes and 15.9 percent.
A candidate has to receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright. Anything less, and a runoff between the two leading candidates is generally expected to be the next step.
According to Taylor County Elections Administrator Freda Ragan, it will be up to the city of Abilene to make that determination.
“Tonight’s results are unofficial,” she said. “We still have provisional ballots that will have to be researched. We still have outstanding military overseas ballots.”
Additionally, if a civilian’s mail-in ballot was postmarked by Saturday, it will still be accepted if the Elections Office receives it by Monday, Ragan added.
“Our ballot board will meet on May 11 for the final time, and they will qualify and process any late ballots that were received in that period,” Ragan said. “Then they will make a determination on those provisional ballots on whether they count or not.”
Afterward, they will give the official results to city officials who will then canvass — or officially examine in detail for authenticity — those results. Any plans for a runoff will originate with them.
“That’s the city’s call. That’s their election,” Ragan said.
On the Wylie ISD School Board, Brad Hill was elected to Place 4 while Megan Stephenson was approved by voters for Place 5.
Hill received 599 votes, which represents 74.97 percent of those who voted in the Place 4 election. Stephenson garnered 636 votes, representing 78.23 percent in the Place 5 race.
The other candidate in the Place 4 race was Doug Schlagel who got 200 votes or 25.03 percent. For Place 5, Eric Sobecki took in 177 votes or 21.77 percent.
Abilene ISD trustees up for reelection went unchallenged this cycle, enabling the board to cancel that election altogether.
Similarly, Abilene Mayor Weldon Hurt and Place 3 City Council member Jay Patterson were also unopposed but appeared on the ballot due to the Place 4 race.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene voters weigh in on City Council members, Wylie ISD trustees
Reporting by Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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