Waelder ISD voters reject bond measures for third time

A Waelder ISD bond issue failed for the third time in two years as voters rejected two measures during the Saturday, May 6, election in complete, but unoffical returns.

Meanwhile, voters in the city of Waelder said yes to three new female City Council aldermen while saying no to two current and one former male councilmen.

Waelder ISD

Waelder ISD was trying to get voters to approve a $10.3 million bond package that would have allowed the district $7.1 million to make improvements to district facilities — including for safety and security — as well as $3.2 million to refund principal and/or interest on previously issued maintenance tax notes.

However, voters rejected Proposition A, the one for $7.1 million, by a 185-155 margin, while shooting down Proposition B, the one for $3.2 million, by a vote of 187-149.

Proposition A would have funded safety and security upgrades at all three school campuses, a new six-room fifth and sixth grade classroom, conversion of the old gym into a new cafetorium, upgrades to existing buildings, creation of a second indoor gymnasium and conversion of the old cafeteria into district administrative offices.

But voters cast 112 early and absentee ballots against the measure, compared to just 83 for it. That was more than enough that election day voting did nothing to change the margin of victory, as 73 voted against and 72 for on Saturday.

Likewise, Prop B had 113 early and absentee votes against compared to just 79 for. There were 74 votes against the measure on election day, compared to 70 votes for the proposal.

Waelder ISD has held bond measure proposals in May 2022, November 2022 and now May 2023 without success on any of them. Only 263 people voted on the measure in May 2022, which failed by a 165-98 margin, while 554 voters cast ballots in a November 2022 election that saw Prop A fall by a 289-261 margin and Prop B by a 315-239 tally.

Waelder City Council

Lady luck was with the ladies in the Waelder City Council race as Martha Melchor (156 votes), Marie Ibarra Almaraz (112) and Rachel Vargas Martinez (89) led the voting for the top three at-large spots. Incumbents Mike Harris (62), Curtis Hadnot (57) and former City Council member Robert “Kido” Tovar (34) rounded out the field of six.

Melchor led all candidates with 96 early and absentee votes and 60 election day votes, while Almaraz was second in both categories (53 and 59, respectively). Martinez was third overall with 43 early and absentee votes and 46 election day tallies as it was more than enough to outdistance the male candidates.