MIKE TOBIAS
PORT ARTHUR — With the polls now closed, Southeast Texas voters are now waiting results from several area races.
Nederland ISD
Voters at Nederland's City Hall have just wrapped up voting around 7:45 p.m.
Nederland Independant School District has six people seeking the three at-large positions on the board of trustees and a $120 bond proposal to make campus improvements.
Early voting numbers are as follows:
Everett Sanderson — 1291 votes
Hilde Atterbery —281 votes
Gavin Bruneybruny — 994 votes
Marty Byrd — 722 votes
George Hawkins — 750 votes
Jesse Branick — 1174 votes
At stake for the school district is the aforementioned amount, which would be used to fund several projects outlined by the district.
The projects include: demolishing four elementary schools and building three new ones (Langham would not be replaced); demolishing and constructing a new C.O. Wilson Middle School; gutting and remodeling Nederland High School; renovating Central Middle School’s Physical Education and Athletics air conditioning unit; constructing a new press box at Bulldog Stadium; artificial turf at Bulldog Stadium; land purchase for future work at Nederland High School and alternative education space modifications.
Early voting numbers are as follows:
For the bond — 501 votes
Against the bond — 2092 votes
Hilde Atterberry, an administrative assistant at the Texas Youth Commission; Gavin Bruney, a certified registered nurse anesthetist; attorney Jesse Branick; and Shell Pipeline craft supervisor Marty Byrd are seeking the board seats for the first time.
Incumbent trustees George Hawkins and Everett Sanderson have both filed for re-election. Brent Weaver, an incumbent whose at-large position expires this year, is not seeking another term on the board.
Port Neches-Groves ISD
In Port Neches-Groves ISD board of trustees race two candidates are seeking the Place 1 seat. They are Jim Walters, a Port Neches police officer, and incumbent trustee Abby Deaton.
Also currently running against each other at Place 2 are Lana Parker, a retired PN-GISD teacher, and current Board Secretary James E. Green. Carol Broussard had no opposition file against her at Place 3.
A special election is called to fill the void left by the death of Place 5 Trustee Harvey Brown. Barbara Brown is seeking her late husband’s seat. She is a retired Huntsman staff administrator. Rodney Balsamo, a member of the Port Arthur Police Department, is also seeking the Place 5 seat.
Sabine Pass ISD
Residents in Sabine Pass will have a chance to vote on a proposed $15 million bond.
School superintendent Malcolm Nash explained the bond monies will be used to replace the gym/auditorium and classrooms that were destroyed by Hurricane Ike in September 2008.
Phyllis Almond and Sam Garrison are running for at-large school board positions.
City of Nederland
Both Ward I and Ward III Nederland City Council positions have candidates vying against each other. Jeff Ortiz, self-employed, and John Bernard, president and chief executive officer of ABC Training Center, have filed for the Ward I position.
Don Albanese, retired, is seeking the Ward III council position as well as Randy Sonnier, material services supervisor for TOTAL.
No incumbent councilmembers are running for re-election.
Incumbent Ward I Councilman Robert Sawyer was appointed to the post a year-and-a-half ago and will not seek another term. Ward III Councilwoman Debby Griffin said since her husband retired, she has decided not to run again.
Nederland residents will also decide 17 charter change propositions on the ballot.
The issues range from adjusting the date of the city’s annual budget to allowing council to order special elections as needed.
City of Port Arthur
In Port Arthur John Beard, incumbent for the District 5 council seat, is seeking re-election. The 52-year-old works as a process operator.
Also seeking the District 5 seat is Farrell Johnson Jr., a 48-year-old biomedical engineer technician, and Sheila Denise Norwood, a 47-year-old registered nurse.
Incumbent Robert E. “Bob” Williamson is seeking re-election to the District 6 City Council seat. He has drawn no opponents.
Port Arthur voters will also decide whether to pass a proposition that would use sales tax money to cover the cost of demolishing dilapidated structures and to fund infrastructure improvements.
The improvements are planned to promote or develop new or expanded businesses enterprises in the project downtown area from Seventh Street to the Intracoastal Canal and from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Lake Charles Avenue.
Changes in the way sales tax money can be used will become more flexible April 1 when a new law becomes effective, Mark Sokolow, city attorney, said.
If the three-year proposition is approved by voters, about $750,000 a year would be dedicated to downtown development.
City of Port Neches
Port Neches voters will have an election to decide changes in the city’s charter.
Incumbents Glenn Johnson and Don Anglin are seeking another term for the mayorial and Place 4 at-large Council seat. Both are running unopposed.
Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10
For the issuance of $2,750,000 of Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 unlimited tax bonds, and the levy of adequate ad valorem taxes to pay such bonds.
Stay with The Port Arthur News online at panews.com for complete results.
