lola lSD Bond fails
A $24 million Iola Independent School District bond proposal (Iola Independent School District Proposition A) was rejected by voters during the May 2022 General Election.
There were a total 569 voters who voted in the in the Iola ISD election with 275 (48.33%) voting in favor of the bond and 294 (51.67%) voting against. The bonds would have addressed various needs throughout the district including drainage issues, construction of a new multipurpose facility that included a gym and stage as well as classroom additions and more.
“Although the bond did not pass, I was pleased with the amount of voters who turned out to the polls,” stated Iola ISD Superintendent Jeff Dyer. “Iola ISD will continue to take pride in the education of our students.”
Iola ISD also had Board of Trustee Position 7 on the ballot. Sierra Betancourt will replace Dedra Nevill receiving 296 (55.95%) of the total 529 votes. Nevill received 233 votes (44.05%).
State of Texas Propositions
Grimes County voters passed Proposition 1, with 1,726 (93.05%) of voters voting in favor and 129 (6.95%) voting against.
Proposition 1 proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of property taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled in order to reflect any statutory reduction in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the person’s homestead from the preceding tax year.
Grimes County voters also approved Proposition 2 with 1,696 (90.89%) voting in favor and 170 (9.11%) voting against.
Proposition 2 proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of property taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled in order to reflect any statutory reduction in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the person’s homestead from the preceding tax year.
City of Navasota
City of Navasota Councilmembers in Position No. 1 and Position No. 2 retained their position for another term. In Position No. 1, incumbent B.F. “Bernie” Gessner, Jr. defeated challenger Doris Sauls with 196 (68.77%) votes to 89 (31.23 %) of the total 285 votes.
In Position No. 2 Pattie Pederson received 198 (72.53%) of the 273 total votes. Challenger Eustacio Ostigin received 75 (27.47%) votes.
City of Todd Mission
Fifteen voters turned out for the City of Todd Mission City of Todd Mission City Council Position 3 election. Tim James received 10 (66.67%) of the votes and Terry Spellman received five (33.33%) votes.
City of Bedias
Bedias voters had the opportunity to elect three council members out of four can didates. Earning positions on the council are Walter Rogers with 32 votes (32.99%), Ray Curtis with 29 votes (29.90%) and Randall Richards with 25 votes (25.77%). Lisa Merritt received the least votes, 11 (11.34%) and won’t have a place on council. There was a total of 97 votes cast.
Anderson-Shiro CISD
Marcy Pavlock was elected to Anderson-Shiro CISD Board of Trustee Position 3 replacing Keith Zimmerman. Of the 263 votes cast, Pavlock received 185 (70.34%) and Zimmerman received 78 votes (29.66%).
Total turnout
Out of 24,651 registered voters in Grimes County, 1,891 (7.67%) exercised their right to vote in the 2022 May General Election.
2022 Primary Runoff Election
Early voting for the 2022 Primary Runoff Election begins Monday, May 16 and ends Friday, May 20. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Extended voting hours are available Tuesday, May 17, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Early voting locations: Grimes County Courthouse, 100 S. Main Street in Anderson and Navasota Center, 101 Stadium Dr. in Navasota.
Primary Runoff Election Day is Tuesday, May 24. Voting hours are 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Election Day locations: Grimes County Courthouse, 100 S. Main Street in Anderson; Navasota Center, 101 Stadium Dr. in Navasota; Iola Community Center, 7264 Main Street in Iola; Plantersville Town Hall, 11335 Lodge Ln. in Plantersville; Shiro Civic Center, 9594 Volunteer Ave. in Shiro and White Hall Community Center, 14536 FM 362 in Navasota.
For more information about upcoming elections visit, www.grimescountytexas.gov/page/Elections.