Rusk, Jacksonville adopt charter rules
Rusk mayor can only vote in tie-breaker
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Voters in Rusk and Jacksonville approved all charter amendment proposals at Saturday's elections.

Proposition 3 on the Rusk ballot asked that the mayor's vote be taken away except in the event of a tie. That proposal passed 49-48. Proposition five allowing city employees spending up to $2,000 passed 67-30. Proposition one authorized the council to appoint one or more alternate municipal court judges. That passed 92-6. Proposition two set the terms of the city attorney, city clerk and municipal judge to be one year. The proposition passed 82-16. Proposition four established a quorum as the majority of the members of the council and establishes the fact that an affirmative vote of the majority present will be required to pass any order of business. This proposition passed by a vote of 88-7.

City elections

Jacksonville city voters approved all seven charter revisions. The last change to the charter was made in 2002. Propositions one, six and seven involve verbiage changes. Proposition three deals with candidate filing times. Proposition four sets candidates requirements. Proposition five authorizes the council to appoint persons to fill vacancies.

In the Rusk city election three incumbents were reelected unopposed. Don Jones received 33 votes; Donald Woodard, 23; and Sam Florian, 21 votes.

In the Jacksonville city election, Jeff Smith, unopposed for District 2 received 27 votes. Rob Beall was elected to the District 4 position. Votes received were Beall 133; incumbent Phyllis Wilburn, 50; and James Hugghins, 3.

School board elections

In the Rusk school board election, Dr. Anthony Holcomb received 152 votes; Frances Long, 142 votes; Oliver Sturns, 40; and Terry Downs, 36 votes. Incumbents Dr. Holcomb and Mrs. Long were re-elected.

James Houser, Place 4 incumbent, was re-elected to the Jacksonville ISD board with a vote of 411 compared to 172 for challenger Ken Smith. Incumbent Jimmy Brown Place 3, received 318 votes to guarantee his reelection. Others receiving votes were Belinda Sims. 66 votes; and Sarah Jane Robinson, 224.

Other elections

Elected at Wells for two full-terms on the city council were Roy White, incumbent, and Robert Kalka; Chris Pounds for an unexpired term. Mr. White received 75 votes and Mr. Kalka, 37. The other candidate on the ballot, Joe Hedgepath received 31 votes. Incumbent Mayor James Maddox was defeated in his bid for re-election by challenger Corbitt Doss. Mr. Maddox received 38 votes and Mr. Doss, 70 votes.

Two incumbents Sheri Solomon and Karie Bolton were re-elected to the New Summerfield city council. Ms. Solomon received 19 votes; Ms. Bolton, 16 votes; and challenger Don Williams, 4 votes.

Elections were cancelled at Alto city, Wells ISD, Reklaw city, Gallatin city and New Summerfield ISD.