Municipal Elections Not Needed in Park Cities
There will be new names on the Highland Park Town Council and University Park City Council soon, but no elections will be necessary.
Highland Park: Three council members — Andrew Barr, Will Beecherl, and Larry Nixon — are stepping down due to term limits, and only three potential replacements — Eric Gambrell, Margo Goodwin, and John McKnight — threw their hats in the ring by today’s 5 p.m. deadline. So with no choices for the voters to make, there’s no need for an election. Gambrell, Goodwin, and McKnight will join Bob Carter, who is finishing up his first two-year term on the council, and Stephen Rogers, who’s finishing up his second. Mayor Joel Williams, who defeated Sam Tamborello two years ago, will cruise to a second term without a challenger.
University Park: Mayor Dick Davis is stepping down after two two-year terms to spend more time with his grandchildren; he’ll be replaced by Olin Lane. The only other newcomer, Taylor Armstrong, will replace Bob Clark, whose maximum third term is winding down. Incumbents Bob Begert and Tommy Stewart will return for their third terms, and Dawn Moore will be back for her second.
Highland Park ISD: The Board of Trustees is the only governing body in the Park Cities that doesn’t put all of its spots on the ballot at the same time. Only two trustees, Sam Dalton and Joe Taylor, were up for re-election this spring, and no challengers came forward. Taylor was first elected six years ago, and Dalton is finishing up his first three-year term.
Man — if only legislative elections were this simple.
