Cedar Park Leander - Edition | June 2022

ELECTION RESULTS

Cedar Park & Leander

Leander and Cedar Park voters decided the future of city council seats and other local issues May 7. RESULTS BREAKDOWN

Leander remains in Capital Metro, Cedar Park passes bond plus other election highlights

BY CLAIRE SHOOP & ZACHARIA WASHINGTON

many of the city’s priorities that were put on hold because of the pandemic. “I’m excited to be able to serve the citizens of Leander for another three years,” Pantalion-Parker said. “I want to †nish what we started.” Meanwhile, the Place 3 and Place 5 races will head to a runo— with the top two vote-getting candidates since no single candidate in these races received more than 50% of the vote. David McDonald and Juan Alanis advanced to the Place 3 runo— with 43.1% and 23.48% of the vote, respectively. In the Place 5 race, incumbent Council Member Chris Czernek advanced to the runo— with 43.49% of the vote. He will be joined by Bill Louden, who received 29.68% of the vote. Early voting in the runo— was held May 31-June 7. Election day is June 11, after press time. In Cedar Park, three council seats and the city mayor position were up for election. Three incumbents—Mel Kirkland, Eric Boyce and Heather Jefts—were all re-elected. Place 1 Council Member Jim Penniman-Morin won the mayoral race. “I’m thrilled with the high turnout in our city election and grateful for the trust and con†dence placed in me as Cedar Park’s next mayor,” Penni- man-Morin said. “Together, we will keep inclusion, civility and collaboration at the forefront of city government.” Funding Cedar Park projects Voters approved all three propositions of Cedar Park’s $158.8 million bond package in the May 7 bond election. Proposition A provides $86.6 million in funding for the city’s roadway infrastructure, tražc signals, and bike and pedestrian improvements on several proposed roads throughout the city. Proposition B allocates $42.2 million to expand or improve facilities, parks and trails, including the Veterans Park pool expansion, Brushy Creek Sports Park athletic †eld turf improvements, Lakeline Park †nal phase and trails improvements. At $30 million, Proposition C funds the construc- tion of a training facility for †re, police and emer- gency management, which would be located on Cedar Park land. It would also house the emergency operations center for use during emergencies. “I am extremely thrilled that our citizens recognized the tremendous bene†ts of the 2022 bond package,” Council Member Eric Boyce said. “The funds raised from these bonds will allow the city to make the critical, prudent and necessary investments in three key areas, which will support our future growth, prosperity and well-being for all citizens.” The approved bond package is not expected to cause an increased tax rate for residents of Cedar Park, according to the city.

On May 7, 58.56% of Leander voters cast ballots in favor of Proposition A, which asked whether Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority services should be continued in the city. This “yes” vote means Capital Metro bus, pickup and rail transportation options will continue as normal, and the city will continue to collect a 1% sales tax to pay for services. Leander residents also voted in three City Council races and on 14 other local propositions. In Cedar Park, residents cast ballots for four City Council seats—including the mayor—and voted to approve three city bond propositions. All Texas voters were also able to vote on two statewide propositions related to property tax relief—each of which passed with more than 84% of the vote. Remaining in Capital Metro Leander voters †rst elected to join Capital Metro in 1985 and have con†rmed that decision twice— †rst in 2000 and now in 2022. Like every participating Capital Metro city, 1% of Leander’s sales tax revenue goes to the transit authority. In March, the two entities approved an agree- ment that would allow for the portion of sales tax revenue allocated to Capital Metro that surpasses the city’s cost of service to be reallocated back to the city to fund local transportation projects. This amounted to about $1.9 million in 2021, according to the city. Leander could also be awarded up to $7.4 million to fund transit-supportive infrastructure proj- ects—dollars the city is now eligible for since voters decided to remain a part of Capital Metro. “CapMetro looks forward to its continued part- nership with the city of Leander and appreciates Leander voters recognizing the vital role public transit has in the community,” a Capital Metro spokesperson said in an email. “The two-way part- nership between CapMetro and the city of Leander is important for so many people, and the impact of this collaboration will only increase as the region continues to grow.” Leander residents also voted on Propositions B“O. Proposition B was contingent on a “no” vote to Proposition A. Of the remaining 13 propositions— most of which were related to the city’s governing charter—all but three passed. Seats on council Both Leander and Cedar Park had council seats up for election May 7. In Leander, three positions were on the bal- lot—Places 1, 3 and 5. Incumbent Place 1 Council Member Kathryn Pantalion-Parker won her bid for re-election. She said she is eager to resume work on

Incumbent

Headed to runo RUNOFF

Winner

CEDAR PARK

CITY COUNCIL MAYORAL RACE 59.8% Jim Penniman-Morin

25.96% Mike Guevara 14.24% Claudia Chavez

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 2

30.3% Collin Klein 69.7% Mel Kirkland

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 4

69.71% Eric Boyce

30.29% Dorian Chavez

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 6

31.13% Tim Kelly

68.87% Heather Jefts

BONDS

3 out of 3 Cedar Park bond propositions passed with at least 68% of the vote

LEANDER

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 1

58.2% Kathryn Pantalion-Parker

41.8% Trey Schisser

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 3

20.97% Steve Hanes 12.44% Roslyn Littles 43.1% David McDonald 23.48% Juan Alanis

CITY COUNCIL, PLACE 5

26.84% Annette Sponseller

29.68% Bill Louden 43.49% Chris Czernek

PROPOSITION A†CAPITAL METRO CONTINUATION

58.56% For

41.44% Against

PROPOSITIONS

Of the remaining 13 propositions, 10passed

SOURCES: TRAVIS COUNTY CLERK, WILLIAMSON COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT‚COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER NOTE: PROPOSITION B IN LEANDER WAS CONTINGENT ON THE FAILURE OF PROPOSITION A. NUMBERS MAY NOT EQUAL 100% DUE TO ROUNDING.

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CEDAR PARK  LEANDER EDITION • JUNE 2022

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