Voters elect new Council member
Jay Davis defeats Mike Ingram 401 votes to 326 for Texas-side’s Ward 6 position
TEXARKANA, Texas — Jay Davis will represent Ward 6 on the City Council, voters decided in a remarkably friendly special election Tuesday.
Davis defeated Mike Ingram, 401 votes to 326, according to complete but unofficial results. He will be sworn in after an official canvass of the votes during a special Council meeting at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in City Hall.
After the result was announced, Davis and Ingram shook hands and embraced outside the Pleasant Grove Middle School band hall, where ballots were cast and counted. The candidates respect each other, they said.
“I’m excited to be able to serve Texarkana and more excited about being able to run with Mike. He and I have known each other before the race started, but we’ve developed a friendship that I know that’s going to continue, and that’s been unique to races that I’ve seen and been a part of in the past,” Davis said.
“I think the city of Texarkana is the winner. Jay is a good man, and he has my full support. I know he’ll be a great council member,” Ingram said.
Davis said his top priorities upon taking office are to listen to constituents and get to work on some street and drainage issues.
He succeeds outgoing Council Member Josh Davis, who resigned the seat to run for Bowie County tax assessor-collector.
He will complete Josh Davis’ unexpired term of office, which ends in November 2022.
Josh Davis, who did not back or endorse either candidate, congratulated both for their “very admirable campaign.”
“I think that both of these fine gentlemen ran a tremendous race. It was a true gentleman’s race, if you ask me. I would say that was very refreshing to see, especially in this day and time in politics,” he said. “I like both of them as people, and I think either one of them would have made a great council member.”
Only Ward 6 residents could vote in the election. Ward 6 is north of Interstate 30, west of State Line Avenue and east of Richmond Road. It’s south of portions of Skyline Boulevard, Knotty Pine Street and portions of Heritage Oak Drive. It also encompasses Ridge Row Circle, Woodbridge Drive and Treasure Hill Road at its farthest points.