TEXAS — On a day marred by tragedy in North Texas, Texans across the state decided on municipal elections, with mayors, propositions, school bonds, city council and school board seats on the ballots.
Results were a mixed bag. Texas mayors cruised to easy victory, a major police oversight proposition passed in Austin, and a contentious proposition that would have had a major effect on policing in San Antonio was shot down.
- Click here for Austin election results
- Click here for San Antonio election results
- Click here for Dallas-Fort Worth election results
Austin Area
Voters in Austin on Saturday passed Proposition A by a wide margin and rejected Proposition B by a similarly wide margin. The dueling propositions, marked by similar language but with key differences, were drafted by advocacy group Equity Action and Voters for Oversight and Police Accountability, respectively.
Proposition A will expand civilian oversight of the Austin Police Department. Proposition B, supported by the Austin Police Association, would have maintained the existing oversight measures approved during meet-and-confer negotiations between the city manager and police union.
Voters within nearby Eanes ISD passed Propositions A, B and C, a bond package worth about $131 million earmarked for safety, stadium upgrades and tech for students.
Voters passed three of the four Hays CISD propositions on the ballot. Propositions A, B and C passed. Proposition D failed. They have a combined worth of $367 million. Proposition A concerns academics and growth, B will provide more funds for fine arts, and C is earmarked for technology. Proposition D concerned outdoor multipurpose pavilions.
Leander ISD voters passed a bond package worth nearly $763 million. It will fund security upgrades, school facility renovations and technology.
In San Marcos, voters passed a school district bond package totaling $166 million. It will go toward security upgrades, the purchase of attendance credits, turf replacement and a district natatorium.
San Antonio
Voters in the Alamo City rejected the controversial Proposition A. It would have banned police from using chokehold and no-knock warrants, decriminalized low-level marijuana possession and abortion, and would have directed police to issue citations for theft from businesses of less than $750 rather than making arrests.
The police union, small businesses and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg opposed the proposition.
Proponents said the proposition would have reformed policing and reduced recidivism.
Dallas
In Dallas, Mayor Eric Johnson easily won a second term. He was running virtually unopposed.
“It is the honor of my life to serve my hometown as Mayor. This victory today belongs to the people of Dallas, and I am looking forward to continuing to lead our city to even greater heights over the next four years,” Johnson wrote in a tweet.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth saw a similar outcome. Mayor Mattie Parker declared victory Saturday with 70% of the total vote. Her closest opponent, Jennifer Castillo, got just 12%.
Frisco
Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney will stay on the job. With 55% of the vote, he defeated challenger Mark Piland. Cheney was first elected mayor in 2016.