The 2025 elections are over, and Texas voters decided on several local issues, in addition to the 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Voters in Wall ISD voted overwhelmingly ratified a new ad-valorem tax rate, an increase of 12 percent for school maintenance by a vote of 728 to 291, according to information from the Tom Green Co. Elections Office.
According to a report from the Big Lake Wildcat, Reagan County voters passed a $25 million dollar hospital bond, 183 votes to 77.
And for the first time in 106 years, the Junction Eagle reports the sale of liquor and mixed beverages is legal in Kimble County; that measure passed 863 to 202.
According to the Brady Standard News Place 4 on Brady City Council, now occupied by Vickie Roddie, will go to a runoff election, since no candidate received 50-percent-plus-one-vote required to take office. Roddie and Ledezma will advance to a runoff election on Dec. 13 to determine the seat.
According to unofficial results from the City of Ballinger, Darlene Kelly won the mayoral race with 235 votes, while Martin Akins won the race for Single Member District by two votes over Chad McDuffee, 43-41. John Fulton will face Richard Sonnenberg in a runoff for the SMD 2 seat.
Election reformers have long pointed out this issue with many American elections, which use a traditional “first-past-the-post” voting system. This can result in an outcome where the majority of voters voted against the candidate who earned a numerical majority.
Some propose a ranked voting system, where the voter chooses the candidate they want their vote to go to if their first choice doesn’t win. The voter also has an option to abstain from voting for any other candidate. Voting systems like this are now commonplace in some states, notably Maine, who now allow voters to select their second choice for statewide races.
All 17 State Constitutional Amendments Pass, Despite Critiques
On Tuesday, voters across Texas pulled the lever for all 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Among them, approval for the creation of state funds for dementia research, water development, and education. Prop. 10 passed overwhelmingly, which will temporarily lower homeowners’ property taxes if their homes are destroyed by fires.
Prop. 3 tightens existing rules requiring judges to deny bail in certain felony cases where prosecutors demonstrate the suspect poses risk of flight or danger to the community. Some critics said that the amendment was an unnecessary, and was an overreach of the state’s authority.
Prop. 12 was criticized by San Angelo law firm Webb, Stokes, and Sparks; who stated via Facebook:
“Vote NO on Proposition 12. This is a dangerous and unnecessary consolidation of power in the Governor’s office. Governors shouldn’t be able to sanction judges for rulings they don’t like. This much power should not be accumulated in any single person in Texas.”
The proposed amendment will appeared as: “The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) , the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.”
The 13-member SCJC consists of six judges appointed by the State Supreme Court, two attorneys appointed by the State Bar, and five citizens appointed by the governor.
Now approved, the lawyers will be replaced by two additional citizen members appointed by Abbott, cutting the State Bar out of the commission entirely.
