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Only 4,080 of Bastrop County’s 53,036 registered voters cast ballots in the May 3 general election, reflecting a turnout of just over 7%, according to county records.
Elgin saw several tight races.
Tiffany St. Pierre edged out Matthew Callahan by just five votes to win the City Council Ward 3 seat, capturing 52% of the 109 votes cast. In Ward 4, Liston Crim defeated write-in candidate Stephanie Lippke with about 72% of the vote.
For the Elgin Independent School District Board of Trustees, Teneisha Wilson won the District 4 seat, while Barry Barker claimed District 7. Both won by a margin of about 20 votes.
Elgin voters also approved Proposition A by a slim margin of 52%. The measure authorizes a new 1.5% sales and use tax in areas not already taxed at the state maximum of 8.25% to support Bastrop/Travis County Emergency Services District No. 1. The tax will primarily apply to unincorporated areas of Elgin, including newly formed municipal utility districts surrounding the city.
According to district officials, revenue from Proposition A will help fund additional fire stations, personnel and new apparatus.
In Bastrop, Ishmael Harris won the mayoral race with approximately 48% of the vote, defeating Willie DeLaRosa and Ward Northcutt. However, Bastrop voters will have to return to the polls June 7 to decide between Harris and DeLaRosa, as this week’s winner did not secure a majority vote.
As for Bastrop City Council races, Perry Lowe secured the Place 1 seat with 70% of the vote over Cecilia Serna, and John Kirkland won Place 5 with 56%, defeating Cheryl Lee.
In the sole contested Bastrop Independent School District trustee race, Chris Dillon narrowly defeated John Eason by around 50 votes.
In Smithville, Brandon Dunham and Jimmy Jenkins won the contested City Council races, securing places 2 and 3, respectively.
Official results will be canvassed by each jurisdiction in the coming days.
