Light recalled in Mineral Wells city elections, other incumbents spared in water-soaked election

May 6—MINERAL WELLS — Voters here overwhelmingly recalled a three-term council member but spared two others on the chopping block during Saturday's municipal elections.

"I'm disappointed in the result in Ward 4 in the election, but I'm elated for the city in regard to the results of the election," Ward 4 Councilman Doyle Light said Monday. "I'm confident that the Lord will lead me to a new place of service."

Residents of the city also approved seven amendments to the city charter, largely bringing it in line with state statutes.

In Mineral Wells ISD, voters chose Scott Aaron in a three-way race to succeed Greg Malone in Place 1 after the incumbent elected not to run.

Aaron took the most votes there, with 776.

Palo Pinto County Elections Administrator Laura Watkins said Monday the May elections do not include runoffs, which makes Aaron the winner Saturday.

Kristopher "Kit" Sparks drew 587 Ram ballots, while Claudia Azua earned 481.

Trustee Brandon Hons was not opposed and did not need to appear on the ballot.

And in Graford ISD, patrons gave their blessing to a $59.9 million bond.

Aside from Light, Mineral Wells incumbents including Mayor Regan Johnson held off challengers in the water-soaked council votes.

Incumbents included Ward 1 Councilman Jerrel Tomlin, who thanks to a petition drive was both up for recall and reelection to another term representing the southeast part of the city.

Tomlin won on both counts. His recall outcome fell 200-159 against, while his race against challenger Bryan Sleeman resulted in a 183-174 win for Tomlin.

Councilman Carlos Maldonado also survived recall, with 357 voters supporting him and 193 siding with his recall.

Light, first elected in May 2017 and the city's mayor pro tem, was recalled by a 169-109 margin.

The three recalls were prompted by petition drives that began late last year.

They largely were in response to the council raising water rates to both pay for a $3 million annual increase in what the city pays the district that owns its water source, Lake Palo Pinto, and to back the district's bid to build a $200 million new lake.

In Ward 3, the city's west/northwest section, incumbent Beth Henary Watson defeated a challenge by D.B. Thomas. Unofficial results show Watson taking more than 63 percent of the vote in a 428-247 win.

And incumbent Mayor Regan Wallace Johnson took down her challenge from Ron Davis, 1,097 to 764.

Light had a year left on his two-year term.

Section 25 of the city charter gives the remaining council members authority to appoint someone to fill a vacancy.

However, Light was not looking for that option.

"No, I will not be reappointed and will not accept the appointment should the council make it," he said, adding he will attend his last two meetings Tuesday and May 14 when votes are canvassed as final.

Light said the overall election results showed most residents are behind the council's mission to secure a future water source.

"I have served Mineral Wells and this area in some capacity or another for 40-plus years," the former Fire/EMS crewman said. "I was honored to serve with this courageous council to begin the revitalization of the stagnant community we had become.

"I'm elated for the council. Those courageous men and women I served with will continue to make sure the future of Mineral Wells is bright. And the first thing about a bright future is people have to have water. and to live here we have to have water."

The Graford bond will build a new secondary campus with a career/college/military readiness facility. It also funds school buses and a storm shelter.

The measure passed by nearly 20 percentage points, 352-237.

Meanwhile, unofficial results in the 1A district indicate Megan Ragle, Ashley Stephens and Eddie Laney taking three open seats on the school board.

The hopefuls drew a respective 397, 394 and 356 votes. That left Tom Sikes out, with 188 votes.

Other results Saturday came from Strawn, where five candidates vied for three at-large seats.

Tommy Lackey, Aron Johnson and Delane Abbott took a respective 57, 50 and 48 votes Saturday.

Brenda Orsini came in fourth by a hair in the unofficial totals with 47 votes, and Philicia Dixon drew 12.

Back in Mineral Wells, seven out of 10 voters approved each of seven amendments to the city charter.

Some of those are somewhat trivial, such as renaming the Corporation Court to Municipal Court, and clarifying that public initiatives, along with regular and recall elections, will hew to the state elections code rule putting those on uniform election days in May or November.

A couple of the charter amendments are more weighty, bringing the city's purchasing and land-purchase/sale codes in line with state law.

Here are the final, but unofficial, results in other contested races throughout the area:

Parker County Appraisal Board Place 3

Joe Tison: 65.77%

Monica Grizzard: 34.23%

Parker County ESD 6 Proposition

For: 39.3%

Against: 60.7%

Reno council Place 5

Joy Jenkins: 59.18%

Justin Williams: 40.82%

Springtown council Place 3

David Martin: 52.43%

Walter Roberson: 47.57%

Springtown council Place 5

Scott Richardson: 67.29%

Jessica Castro: 32.71%

Walnut Creek SUD

Robin Corder: 18.14%

Bill Roesicke: 31.62%

Mark Green: 34.07%

David DeSoto: 16.18%

Millsap ISD (3-year term)

Brad Hall: 24.35%

Heather Hester: 28.66%

Todd Raymond: 16.97%

Jon Hartman: 30.01%

Millsap ISD (1-year replacement term)

Ross Beavers: 58.52%

Whittney Gilbert: 36.68%

Valerie Fowler: 4.8%

Peaster ISD

Aric Kram: 19.75%

Leanna Stafford: 35.33%

Scott Johnson: 12.93%

Laura Stewart: 31.99%

Springtown ISD Place 7

Elizabeth Hall: 47.07%

Cody Bryant: 52.93%