The 2020 election saw record turnout across the US and right here in Tarrant County. More than 830,000 ballots were cast in the county with 69% voter turnout. This election impacts all residents in a variety of ways. Let’s break it down:
City of Arlington Prop A: Arlington voters chose to increase the sales tax in the city by one-quarter cent to the state allowed maximum of 8.25%. Voting for the tax increase were 55.4% of the voters. The quarter-cent sales tax will fund the Arlington Economic Development Corporation which was approved by City Council several years ago but was never funded. The sales tax increase will result in approximately $18 million that Arlington can use for growing our economy and the resulting business tax base. Arlington was one of only two cities in North Texas that did not utilize the full sales tax potential allotted by the State of Texas.
City of Arlington City Council: Arlington has some returning and some new faces to their City Council along with one runoff race. Helen Moise will be returning to City Council for District 1 receiving 67% of the vote. City Council District 2 was an open seat that will be filled by former Mansfield ISD Trustee, Raul Gonzalez who received just under 54% of the vote. Arlington has three City Council seats that are city-wide, Districts 6, 7 and 8; two were on the ballot last week. The City Council District 6 seat was also an open seat, and the race was very close. Ruby Faye Woolridge is the newly elected councilmember for District 6 winning with just under 51% of the vote. For District 7, there will be a runoff election on Tuesday, December 8 between incumbent Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers and Antoine Lane. Dr. Farrar-Myers received 47.67% of the vote with four candidates on the ballot but did not receive the 50% needed to avoid the runoff. Learn more about both candidates: Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers and Antoine Lane.
Arlington ISD Prop A: This was a close vote, and the Arlington ISD won approval from voters by just 246 votes, winning with a margin of 50.1% of the vote. The AISD Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) will set the total tax rate at $1.3871 per $100 of assessed value, an increase of 8.84 cents. The District plans to use the funds to remain competitive with other area school districts in recruiting and retaining the best teachers and staff.
State Officials: Incumbent State Senators Brian Birdwell (District 22) and Jane Nelson (District 12) securely won reelection, and State Senators Kelly Hancock (District 9) and Beverly Powell (District 10) were not up this year. For State Representative, there were six races that impacted the greater Arlington area. State Representative District 92 and District 96 both had an open seat. Jeff Cason won District 92 with 50.9% of the vote. Former Mayor of Mansfield David Cook won the District 96 seat with 51.2% of the vote. Incumbent State Representatives Matt Krause (District 93) and Tony Tinderholt (District 94) successfully won reelection. State Representatives Chris Turner (District 101) and Nicole Collier (District 95) both ran unopposed.