There was a slew of mayoral races, bond packages and other local matters on the ballot for North Texas voters to decide during Saturday’s elections.
Garland elected its second-ever female mayor, the Collin County town of New Hope voted out its openly transgender mayor, and Coppell and Denton will keep their top representatives for another term.
In Fort Worth, voters passed a nearly $400 million bond package to improve the city's streets and facilities over the next five years. Voters in the city of Carrollton and Rowlett also approved bond packages. The Denton and Mesquite school districts passed their proposed bonds as well.
Find election highlights and links to full election results in your North Texas county below.
Mayoral races
New Hope mayor ousted
Residents in the small Collin County town of New Hope voted out Mayor Jess Herbst on Saturday. Herbst had hoped to become the first openly transgender elected official in Texas. A former alderman and road commissioner, Herbst, 59, was chosen to serve as mayor in 2016 after the previous mayor died suddenly. She later came out to the town as transgender. Herbst came in third place among the candidates running for mayor.
Garland elects first female mayor
Lori Barnett Dodson was elected the Garland’s first female mayor in 30 years and the only the second female mayor in the city’s history, The Dallas Morning News reports. Dodson, 54, has served three previous terms on the City Council. Doug Athas’ resignation as mayor forced Garland's special election to fill a one-year term. Dodson follows Ruth Nicholson, who was the first female mayor, according to the Morning News.
More mayoral results
According to unofficial returns, other mayors elected in contested races include: Karen Hunt in Coppell, Chris Watts in Denton, Barry Gordon in Duncanville, Margo Goodwin in Highland Park, Rudy Durham in Lewisville, David Hillock in Little Elm and Saji George in Sunnyvale.
Bond packages
Fort Worth passes nearly $400 million bond
In Fort Worth, voters approved six bond propositions totaling almost $400 million in the next five years. The most money will be spent on streets and infrastructure with $261 million appropriated. Other bond items include: $84 million on parks and recreation, nearly $10 million on public libraries, almost $12 million on fire safety improvements, $13 million on animal shelter improvements and $18 million on police facilities. More from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Schools bonds pass
Denton ISD voters approved a $750 million bond for construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school buildings in the district. Mesquite ISD voters approved a $325 million bond for the same purpose. And Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD approved $199 million for school facilities.
More bond results
Carrollton voters approved three bond items: $78 million for street improvements, $6 million for public safety facilities and $22 million for parks and recreation facilities.
Rowlett voters also approved three bond propositions: $41 million for paving and drainage improvements, nearly $9 million for parks, trails and recreational facilities and another $9 million for public safety and facility improvements.
Full election results
