Tom Green County Voters Reject Beto and Bonds

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Tom Green County voters showed up in record numbers in the Nov. 6 general election with most voting early rejecting Beto O’Rourke and both San Angelo ISD bond proposals.  Every Republican on the ballot in Tom Green County easily won, most with over 70 percent of ballots cast.

Republican incumbent Senator Ted Cruz garnered 24,568 ballots in Tom Green County to O’Rourke’s 9,624.  The Beto effect did produce four major upsets related to Tom Green County Tuesday night. Four Republican incumbent justices on the Texas Third Court of Appeals were soundly defeated by voters in Democrat voters in Travis County.  

The Third Court of Appeals hears cases from 24 counties including Tom Green and Travis.  Travis county includes Austin and the Texas Legislature. The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and five justices.  Four of the six incumbent Republican Justices were defeated Tuesday by voters Democrat voters in Travis county. All four of the justices won Tom Green and the other 22 counties but lost in Travis because of the turnout driven primarily by Beto O’Rourke.  

It is important because the Third Court of Appeals has intermediate appellate jurisdiction of both civil and criminal cases appealed from lower courts in twenty-four counties of Texas; the Third Court of Appeals hears challenges to laws passed by the Texas Legislature which could include property tax reform and how public schools are funded.  

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Incumbent Republican Justice Scott Field was defeated by Democrat Chari Kelly 54 percent to 46 percent.  Democrat Thomas Baker defeated republican incumbent David Puryear 54 percent to 46 percent. Republican Mike Toth was appointed to replace retiring long time republican justice Bob Pemberton.  Democrat challenger Gisela Triana defeated Toth 54 percent to 44 percent. And incumbent republican Cindy Olson Bourland lost her seat to democrat Edward smith 54 percent to 46 percent.

The four Democrats will join Republicans Chief Justice Jeff Rose and Justice Melissa Goodwin when they are sworn in January 1.  

Tom Green County Commissioner Pct. 4 Republican Bill Ford easily won reelection over write-in candidate Gilbert Gallegos.  Ford received 7,275 voters to Gallegos’ 892 or 89 percent to 11 percent.

Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Susan Werner also won with 3,153 to democrat challenger Sally Ayana’s 2,150 or 60 percent to 40 percent.  

Texas remains a red state with all statewide republicans winning reelection.  Republicans retain control of the Texas House, the Texas Senate and all statewide elected offices.  

Voters in Tom Green County also rejected two bond proposals from the San Angelo ISD a second time.  Back in May, a $149 million bond proposition failed by 2 votes; 3,051 against and 3,049 in favor.

The San Angelo ISD regrouped and split the bond into two propositions.  Proposition A was for $111 million for classrooms, safety measures, handicap accessibility and aging facility conditions.  Proposition a was defeated 14,474 to 11,528.

Proposition B was for a new 3,000 seat gym for Central High School and a new baseball field house for Lake View High School for $34 million.  Proposition B was defeated 14,985 to 11,021.

Despite an aggressive marketing campaign including radio and newspaper advertising, direct mail, flyers sent home with students and public meetings, voters rejected the bonds again.

Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff issued a statement Tuesday night saying in part, “Although our facilities continue to age, it is time to pause, take a hiatus on bond elections, and focus on the many wonderful gifts our students bring to us daily in San Angelo.”

In the Christoval ISD voters also rejected a bond proposition for a second time.  There, 701 ballots were cast against the $11 million bond while 520 were cast in favor of it. Had it passed, the Christoval bond would have funded major renovations and expansion of the elementary school and construction of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) facility.