Early voting underway for federal, local, liquor elections

Early voting in the Nov. 3 general election is now underway, bringing several local, state and federal races for Dublin and Lingleville voters to decide upon.

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 9,664 Erath voters have cast their ballots in person with 8,294 in Stephenville and 1,370 in Dublin. A total of 1,067 absentee ballots have been cast. This translates to 44.9% of Erath’s registered voters who had already voted.

Early voting has been moved to Patrick Street Church of Christ (630 N. Patrick Street)in Dublin and the Graham Street Church of Christ Family Center (375 N. Graham St.) in Stephenville by county officials to ensure more space for social distancing during the election proceedings.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday.

On election day (Nov. 3), the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at both of the previous locations as well as the Bluff Dale Community Center, the Cornerstone Assembly of God, Huckabay Community Center, Lingleville School Building, Morgan Mill Community Center, Selden Community Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center and Texas Bank in Stephenville.

Dublin voters have two local elections to evaluate: a special option to allow “the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages” and City Council place 4 in which incumbent Ben Pate is facing Eric Bullard.

Lingleville voters are deciding in one contested school board race locally: Position 1, in which incumbent Sonya Koke is facing challenger Tammy Kellar. (Fellow school board members Justin Wilson, Larry Griffin, Brent

Hallmark and Tyler Howle are running unopposed for their positions.)

Dublin and Lingleville voters also have the following elections to decide:

Federal

President

■ Donald J. Trump/Michael R. Pence (Rep.)

■ Joseph R. Biden/Kamala D. Harris (Dem.)

■ Jo Jorgensen/Jeremy “Spike” Cohen (Lib.)

■ Howie Hawkins/Angela Walker (Green)

U.S. Senator

■ John Cornyn (Rep.)

■ Mary “MJ” Hegar (Dem.)

■ Kerry Douglas McKennon (Lib.)

■ David B. Collins (Green)

U.S. Representative, District 11

■ August Pfluger (Rep.)

■ Jon Mark Hogg (Dem.)

■ Wacey Alpha Cody (Lib.)

State

Railroad Commissioner

■ James “Jim” Wright (Rep.)

■ Chrysta Castaneda (Dem.)

■ Matt Sterett (Lib.)

■ Katija “Kat” Gruene (Green)

Chief Justice, Supreme Court

■ Nathan Hecht (Rep.)

■ Amy Clark Meachum (Dem.)

■ Mark Ash (Lib.)

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6

■ Jane Bland (Rep.)

■ Kathy Cheng (Dem.)

Justice Supreme Court, Place 7

■ Jeff Boyd (Rep.)

■ Staci Williams (Dem.)

■ William Bryan Strange III (Lib.)

Justice Supreme Court, Place 8

■ Brett Busby (Rep.)

■ Gisela D. Triana (Dem.)

■ Tom Oxford (Lib.)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

■ Bert Richardson (Rep.)

■ Elizabeth Davis Frizell (Dem.)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4

■ Kevin Patrick Yeary (Rep.)

■ Tina Clinton (Dem.)

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9

■ David Newell (Rep.)

■ Brandon Birmingham (Dem.)

Member, State Board of Education, District 14

■ Sue Melton-Malone (Rep.)

■ Greg Alvord (Dem.)

There are also uncontested races for Shelby Slawson for State Representative, District 59; Bruce Williams for Justice, 11th Court of Appeals, Place 2; W. Stacy Trotter for Justice, 11th Court of Appeals, Place 3; and Alan Nash for District Attorney.

The ballots also feature a contested race for Erath County Sheriff in which Sheriff Matt Coates is running against Paul Tyus. Tyus was charged by the Erath County District Attorney’s Office last month with Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information (50 or more units), and Tampering With a Governmental Record after allegedly including forged signatures in his petition to be included on the ballot.

No formal decision has been made yet in the charges, and the charges were made too late for his name to be withdrawn from the ballot.

Erath County will be practicing recommended social distancing guidelines for the election and will be using a bleach solution to clean the polling locations and voting machines. Each voter will use a clean pen to sign in and be offered a Q-Tip to mark their ballot so the voter does not have to touch the machine. The use of masks by voters and poll workers is optional, but encouraged.

Curbside service will also be offered at the Graham Street Church of Christ for those that are unable to enter due to age, disability, or sickness.

Liquor Election on Nov. 3 ballot

Dublin voters have a special election to decide along local, state federal races.

If approved, the special option will allow the sale of alcohol at any type of business with special permits and subject to a city ordinance, which would have to be decided and approved by the city council following a successful election.

The special option liquor election was originally supposed to be decided in the May elections which were postponed due to shelter and social distancing restrictions. The option was put on to the ballot after organizers gathered 300 qualified signatures of residents within the city limits from among the 425 signatures received. (A total of 265 signatures were required for the election to be held.)

The petition was filed by Jesica and Dillon Richey through Blackjack East LLC, but Dublin entrepreneur Mark Ellis said while signatures were being collected that there were many business owners and residents who expressed interest.

“We want to promote the American way,” Ellis said. “We simply want the petition to allow us to vote and the people can say whether they want it or not.”

Ellis said that if the decision passed, it would generate more sales tax for the city and ease the sales tax burden for individuals.

Ellis cited other cities who have benefitted from allowing alcohol sales such as Anna, Texas. According to the Dallas Morning News, the small town’s sales tax collections were $353,781 in 2005 before the voters decided to allow liquor sales. The number reportedly swelled to $767,497 by 2009 (an increase of 117 percent).

The Texarkana Gazette reported a similar situation in Redwater, Texas, whose monthly sales tax collections increased from $3,500 to around $8,000 per month after the city decide to go wet in 2015. Mayor Robert Lorance was quoted as saying that increase revenue allowed the city to provide additional services and infrastructure improvements.

It was also noted that the passage could lead to job creation and an increase in tourism. Those looking for the vote cite a desire to have things like a beer with pizza or margaritas with Mexican food.

The passage would also allow for more option for wineries or those looking to make their own craft beer.

A passage would also open the door for a business that some have felt was needed in Dublin for years: an Irish pub. An authentic Irish pub selling authentic, homemade food and drinks would be unique to the area and most of the state.

Dublin EDC Executive Director Karen Wright reported that a consultant from A&M, Dr. Peter Tarlow, was hired years ago to work on a vision and tourism for Dublin.

“His first question was ‘if you say you’re Irish, where’s your Irish pub?,’” Wright remembered. “He said we needed to invest in being the Irish Capital of Texas if we have the designation.”

DISD City Council

Eric Bullard

Eric Bullard is running as the challenger for Place 4.

Bullard and his wife have three children and have lived in Dublin for almost 16 years. He has and automotive.

He was worked for the city in public works for more than 14 years and thinks that his experience working with city employees will help in serving on the City Council.

“I think the most important characteristic to serve is the help Community the best you can,” Bullard said.

Bullard believes that the city should have more citywide clean-ups and that every street in the city limits should be paved.

He also believes it is important the the Council should get a budget that will help the community as well as city employees.

Ben Pate

Ben Pate is running as the incumbent for City Council Place 4

“I originally came to council because I really want to see something get he said. “I want to drive down the street and see something cleaner, something painted, something repaired so we can be proud of our city.”

Pate feels that the current council works well together but admits that they are still tackling issues for past city decisions.

The current city council is a really good

“Our most important issue is figuring out how much is enough,” he said. “We only have limited money and the question is how to best use it. We want Dublin to be a desirable town that people would like to visit or move to. It has to be done within our established budget.”

Pate worked as a television director before retirment and feels that his experience working with different personalities helps him on the council

He is a 1970 Dublin High School graduate. He attended Texas Wesleyan College and TCU, where he earned his Masters degree. I graduated with a Bachelors and a Masters degree from TCU.

While living in Arlington, he servedI on the Arlington Parks Bond and Design Committee and committees at East Arlington Renewal, Hope Tutoring Inc, and Aldersgate United Methodist Church.