By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Harold Doucet has taken the lead in a close three-way race for Port Arthur mayor with 871, or 37.71 percent of the total early votes tabulated.

Coming in second is Derrick Freeman, with a total of 770, or 33.33 percent of the early votes while Janice Milo garnered 669 or 28.96 percent for third place.

Two propositions on the city’s ballot concerning funding the Economic Development Corporation has proposed to spend on streets and downtown improvements are also faring favorably among those who cast their ballots early.

Proposition 1, which authorizes the PAEDC to return 1/8 cent of the half cent sales tax generated in Port Arthur back to the city to provide revenue for maintenance and repair of city streets received 1,681 votes in favor of the measure, and 505 against.

Early voters are also saying yes to Proposition No. 2 with 1,349, or 65.74 percent voting for the expenditure and 703, or 34.26 voting against it. The proposition for the next three years would provide funding to assist qualified homeowners to get into affordable houses in a targeted area of the city’s downtown.

The proposition allows the EDC to spend $300,000 a year on an affordable housing project designed to put people with lower paying jobs in homes they otherwise might not be able to afford.

If passed after the final votes are tabulated, the EDC will use the funding to pay down the amount between what a bank is willing to lend the potential homeowner and what the housing costs.