News

Voters narrowly approve school bond

By Traviss Thomas
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 2:32 PM CDT

Voters in Hutto went to the polls Saturday, approving a new school bond issue by a narrow five votes and selecting new city and school officials.

The $128.5 school bond proposition passed by a razor-thin margin — 401 votes in favor and 396 against.

However, Hutto ISD Proposition 2, which would have allocated $9.95 million for the construction of a swimming complex, failed with 437 votes against and 350 votes in favor.

In the Hutto mayoral race, incumbent Kenneth Love was reelected with 296 votes. Challenger Steven “Bear” Salfelder received 273 votes.

Love said his reelection shows that voters are satisfied with the job he has done.

“I think they are very, very pleased with the last four years when I have been serving on the council and the work I and the other members of the council have done for the community,” he said.

Love was on the city council from 2004 to 2006, and has been Hutto’s mayor since 2006.

For City Council Place 2, incumbent Debbie Holland ran unopposed, and received 429 votes.

In the race for City Council Place 3, incumbent Ronnie Quintanilla-Perez won outright with 276 votes — just over 50 percent of the total votes cast. Challengers Daniel McDowell and Charles Fain received 208 votes and 61 votes, respectively.

Councilmember Quintanilla-Perez said that she will continue to fight the extension of electrical transmission lines in Hutto and promote economic development.

“Tax relief is a big issue for many residents,” she added.

In the race for City Council Place 6, being vacated by current councilmember Nancy Olguin, Felix Madrid received 303 votes to defeat Kyle Sears, who received 231 votes.

In the Hutto ISD Board of Trustees election, Shelli Aday and Mike Pickard won the two open seats with 387 and 307 votes, respectively.

Phillip Boutwell received 254 votes.