Voting under way for Miss Gonzales County

Voting is now under way for the 2021 Miss Gonzales County Royal Court, which returns after being missed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Royal Court is comprised of high school and junior high school girls who elect to run for the court and will actively seek support from voters for a position in this group. The winners are announced the Saturday night of Come and Take It weekend and then will also appear in the 2022 Come and Take It Celebration parade as well as representing the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at other events throughout the local area.

Voting is open to anyone interested in doing so and you do not have to live in Gonzales County, though each vote costs $1 and contributes to the Queen’s scholarship and voters are asked to sign a voter register. Voters can vote for one high school girl and one junior high school girl for the court.

“Mayor (Connie) Kacir has cast the first ballot already,” said Brad Cox, executive director of the Chamber. “We weren't really sure what sort of participation we would have with the royal court, given just how everything is sort of different these days because of the pandemic, but it's most court applications we've ever had. There are 13 senior high ladies and three junior high ladies. Usually, our average each year is about six or seven total.”

Early voting continues through 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce, 414 St. Lawrence St.

Voting day is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, outside the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce.

Voters must be able to write their own name and distinguish the name of the candidate of their choice. Assistance will be provided for individuals with special needs.

On Monday, Sept. 27, the votes will be tallied by Allison Davis, the youth minister at the First United Methodist Church of Gonzales and secretary of the Come and Take It Celebration Commitee. Then, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, the Queen and her court will be announced live during a coronation ceremony at Independence Square.

For more information about the Royal Court, go to gonzalestexas.com/come-and-take-it or call the Chamber of Commerce at 830-672-6532.