In the only countywide race on Saturday's ballot, voters chose two bankers and a former member of the Texas State Board of Professional Tax Examiners to fill McLennan Central's three new board seats Appraisal District.
The McLennan Central Appraisal District held a countywide election to select three new members, expanding the number of voting members on the board to eight. The board is responsible for hiring the chief appraiser, setting the appraiser's office budget and influencing policy. Only 10,986 of 154,457, or 7.11 percent, of McLennan County's registered voters cast ballots in the May 4 election.
Place 1 was won by unopposed candidate and former Waco City Council member John Kinnaird, 44. Kinnaird received 7,789 votes.
Kinnaird is currently a vice president and portfolio manager at Community Bank & Trust. Kinnaird previously served on the board as an appointed member for six years.
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Place 2 was won by Perry Felton, 53, senior vice president of Community Bank & Trust. Felton won the position with 4,696 votes, or 55.6% of the 8,454 votes cast.
Felton defeated opponent David Schleicher, 57, a local attorney who previously served as a Waco Independent School District administrator. Schleicher received 3,758 votes.
Felton said he decided to run for office after several people asked if he would, and he thought it was a good way to get involved with the community. Felton has worked in banking for the past 18 years and previously worked in the HVAC business.
Position 3 was won by Linda Hatchel, 77, a former member of the Texas State Board of Professional Examiners. Hatchel won the position with 4,281 votes, or 54.6% of the 7,837 votes cast.
Hatchel defeated two challengers, including Dennis DeGraff, 65, a retired Air Force colonel who received 1,480 votes, or 18.9 percent, and William Vernon, 59, a Keller Williams Realty agent who receive 2,076 votes, or 26.5%.
Hatchel will bring his six years of experience working for an oversight entity focused on the education and licensing of tax assessors and collectors. Hatchel is also a former English teacher and current member of the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Waco Symphony Association.
