Council OKs Jan. 28 Ward 6 special election

TEXARKANA, Texas — During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council officially called a special election to replace outgoing Ward 6 member Josh Davis.

The election will take place Jan. 28, 2020. Candidate-filing for a place on the ballot begins immediately and continues through Dec. 19.

Only Ward 6 residents may vote in the election. On the day of the election, there will be one polling place, the Pleasant Grove Middle School band hall at 5605 Cooks Lane. Early voting will be available at City Hall for two weeks prior to Jan. 28.

City Attorney Jeffery Lewis stressed that a different polling place used by some Ward 6 residents during county-run elections will not be used for the City Council vote.

Those who wish to file can pick up an information packet in the city secretary’s office. Candidates for City Council must be U.S. citizens and registered voters who have lived in Texas for a year and in the ward they want to represent for six months.

Davis announced Nov. 14 he is a candidate for Bowie County, Texas, tax assessor-collector. According to the Texas Constitution, the announcement meant he automatically resigned his seat on the Council, though he may remain in office until a successor is found.

Davis’ term on the Council would have expired in November 2022. Because his unexpired term is longer than a year, the Constitution requires a special election within 120 days of his resignation. The election may not be held within 30 days of a general, primary or runoff primary election. In Texas, primaries for the November 2020 general election take place March 3.

Ward 6 is north of Interstate 30, west of State Line Avenue and east of Richmond Road. Its 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.

In other business, the Council unanimously approved a report on the city’s use of federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

The Council’s next meeting, the final one of 2019, is scheduled for Dec. 9.