The results of the May 10 local elections showed voters wanted a change in leadership in several cities.
The most dramatic turnover on Cedar Creek Lake occurred in the City of Tool, where all of the incumbents on the ballot and a former mayor running for election to the council got trounced. Council members Fran Sonka and Rick Williams lost their seats, and A.J. Red Phillips failed to win back a seat. Incumbent Mayor Tamra Brickey unseated Phillips on the council in the November election.
The new Tool City Council members will be Mke Barr, Randy Whitehurst and Kathryn Pinnell, who took 96, 80 and 62 votes respectively. Clounch, Sonka, Phillips and Williams took 58, 56, 51 and 39 votes.
In Gun Barrel City, incumbent Mayor Paul Eaton lost his seat to challenger Jim Braswell. Eaton took only 134 votes, and Braswell won the seat with 301 votes.
In Seven Points, incumbent mayor Bill Hash won re-election over challenger Gerald Taylor, who is a former mayor of the city, with 56 to 49 votes. Hash has served for mayor since March when former Mayor Kevin Pollock resigned to run for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.
In Athens, voters saved the Athens Municipal Water Authority from abolishment by 668 to 590 votes, but they threw incumbent Athens City Council members out. The City Council had called for the election to consider abolishment of the water authority after the two government entities quarreled over finances and the water authority filed a lawsuit against the city.
Joe Whatley beat Carol Barton, 674 to 573, Charles Elliott won over Aubrey Jones, 619 to 612 and Tres Winn surpassed Elaine Jenkins 672 to 558.
In the Kemp Independent School Disrict Board of Trustees race, Sharron Rodriguez Rankin beat Sue Moore 45 to 26 votes. Charissa Roberts and Rusty Clamon took 44 votes and 41 votes respectively to also join the board.
In the Mabank Independent School District Board of Trustees race, Erik Tijerina won over Mike Cathey 320 to 189.
For the Mabank City Council, John Chappell, Dennis Terry and Shannon Steakley won with 111, 103 and 91 votes respectively. Jody Farrell took only 36 votes.
In Caney City, Randy Reeder, Lamar Mathews and Lawanda Robertson won council seats with 43, 39 and 31 votes respectively. Pat Mayfield and Claude Miller took only 23 and 22 votes respectively.
Cross Roads Independent School District voters approved a $4.5 million bond on a 198-147 vote.
