HSB election filing closes Aug. 21

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Horseshoe Bay City Council has called for a general election in November to elect a mayor and two council members and a special election the same day to decide whether the city will continue to collect sales tax for municipal street repair and maintenance.

The election will be held Nov. 7 and the first official day to file for a spot on the ballot is July 22. However, since that day is a Saturday and City Secretary Kerri Craig's office will not be open, the first day applications will be accepted will be Monday, July 24. The last day to file for election is Aug. 21.

Mayor Steve Jordan and council members Cynthia Clinesmith and Reagan Lambert hold the positions that are up for election this year. If only one candidate files for mayor and two candidates file for council positions, the city can cancel the general election at its Aug. 29 council meeting.

If more than one candidate files for mayor, the winner is elected by majority vote. If more than two candidates file for council, the winners are elected at large by plurality vote.

The special election will determine whether the city will reauthorize a local sales and use tax of one-fourth of a penny to fund maintenance and repair of municipal streets and sidewalks, which is allowed under Chapter 327 of the Texas Tax Code.

Special elections to reauthorize the sales and use tax must be held every four years, and since the current tax expired in March 2018, the reauthorization election must be held this November.

The council also voted in July to contract with Llano and Burnet counties for election services at an estimated total cost of $4,627.55.

Early voting in Llano County would be held at the Llano County Library, 102 E. Haynie, Llano, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 23 through Nov. 3, with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 23 and Oct. 30. Early voting would also be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Oct. 23-Nov. 3 at the Kingsland Public Library, 125 W. Polk, Kingsland, and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the same dates at the Horseshoe Bay Property Owners Association, 107 Twilight, Horseshoe Bay.

Election Day polling would take place Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Horseshoe Bay Council Chambers at City Hall, 1 Community Drive.

In Burnet County, early voting would take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, at both the Burnet County Courthouse, 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, and the Marble Falls Courthouse South Annex, 810 Steve Hawkins Parkway, Marble Falls.

Election Day polling would take place at the Marble Falls Courthouse South Annex from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7.