Early voting draws hundreds for May 4 elections

Along with 916 mail-in ballots, a total of 1,380 people have voted in the election, just slightly more than the start of early voting in the 2022 election, which like this year included a Waco mayoral race .

Early voting continues through April 30 at five locations operated by the McLennan County Elections Office. The La Vega Independent School District is holding its own elections, with early voting available at the district's administrative offices.

The May 4 election includes races for Waco mayor, Woodway City Council, Waco Independent School District general trustee and several school bond elections.

In the Waco mayoral race, District 5 Council member Jim Holmes, attorney Aubrey Robertson and pastor and activist Eric Brown are seeking to replace outgoing Mayor Dillon Meek.

For the Waco Independent School District, incumbent Keith Guillory, a firefighter, faces a challenge from Lauren Caldwell, a minister.

For Woodway City Council, Ward 2 Place 1 incumbent Storey Cook, a mental health professional, faces challenger Andrea Rossfeld, an insurance claims adjuster. In Ward 3, Place 1, incumbent Gayle R. Avant, a retired political science professor, faces challenges from communications specialist Ken Sury and Richard Hess, a retired banker.

Other races in the area include the following:

Proposition A: $23 million for school buildings

Proposition B: $1.6 million to renovate the stadium

Place 7: Incumbent Councilman Trey Copeland and challenger Diane Davis

Proposition A: A $60 million bond issue for a new elementary school and other school facilities

Trustees: Chad Talbert, Trent Huey, Jared Griffin (choose up to two)

Proposal A: Bond issue of $76.5 million for facilities, buses and vehicles

Proposition B: Bond issue of $4.5 million for stadium improvements

Proposition C: $11.9 million bond issue for a multi-program facility

Administrators: Tyler Stewart, Jason Lavender, Lane Wakefield, Russ Johnson (choose up to three)

Proposition A: $37.6 million in school facilities bonds

Proposition B: $1.27 million bond for school recreational facilities

Proposition A: $82 million bond issue for school facilities

Trustees: Michael Terry, Corey Pharris, John Murphy, Damian Davis Sr., Bridget Williams, Raquel “Rocki” Blood, Sara Deike (choose up to two)

Proposition A: Disconnection of about 3,000 hectares from the city

Proposition A: Reducing an economic development sales tax from half a cent on the dollar to one-eighth of a cent on the dollar, and creating a three-eighths of a cent on the dollar sales tax to fund street maintenance. The total local sales tax rate would remain unchanged.

City Council: David M. Byrd, Andrea Fullner, Ray “Tiny” Gonzales, Odell Nevills, Trevor, Baize, Kristen Bohannon, Jason Tweedle, Brenda Roberts (choose up to three)

City Council: Henry Bush, Bruce Bundrant, Chuck Wilson, Richard Lednicky (choose up to three)

Proposition A: $9.5 million bond issue for streets and highways

City Council Ward 2: Bonnie Mooney Mullens and Andy Maguire

Three board positions will be chosen under a state constitutional amendment approved by voters last November.

The three elected members will join five appointed to the governing board, which is not directly involved in setting the ratings.

Place 1: John Kinnaird, unopposed

2nd place: David R. Schleicher and Perry Felton

Place 3: Dennis DeGraff, Linda Hatchel and William (Bill) W. Vernon Jr. (choose one)

Early voting for the McLennan County Joint Election will be offered daily Monday through April 30. The schedule is as follows:

From Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m

April 29-30, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

The early voting centers are as follows:

McLennan County Office of Election Administration, Records Building, 214 N. Fourth St., Suite 300

Robinson Community Center, 106 W. Lyndale Ave.

Doris Miller Community Center, 1020 Elm Ave., Suite 800 L

West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

Hewitt City Hall and Library, 200 Patriot Court.

For the Axtell ISD bond election, registered voters in McLennan County can choose from five polling locations, while registered voters in Hill County or Limestone County can only vote at the Doris Miller Community Center.

Vega ISD will hold a separate election, with early voting at the Administration Building, 400 E. Loop 340. Early voting hours will follow other elections.