Editor’s note: These are preliminary results with all 88 Hays county precincts reporting. According to unofficial figures, 19.52% of registered voters voted in this election. Canvassing and release of official results is set to occur on Nov. 10.
In the Nov. 4 election, incumbent Matthew Mendoza will be holding his seat for San Marcos City Council Place 1. There will be a runoff election between incumbent Saul Gonzales and Josh Paselk on Saturday, Dec. 13. Early voting for the runoff election will be from Dec. 1 to Dec. 9, according to the Secretary of State website.
San Marcos residents approved 10 of the 12 city charter amendments — changes to the governing documents, denying an increase in the term limit for mayor and an increase in the time required for the Planning and Zoning Commission to do a full review of the Comprehensive Plan.
For San Marcos City Council Place 1, incumbent Matthew Mendoza received 56.77% of the vote or 4,233 votes. Chase Norris received 43.23% of the vote or 3,224 votes.
For Place 2, Josh Paselk received 35.13% of the vote or 2,615 votes. Saul Gonzales received 26.84% of the vote or 1,998 votes. Barbara Montana-Escobar received 25.57% of the vote or 1,903 votes. Christopher L. Polanco received 7.89% of the vote or 587 votes. Brandon Oles. received 4.57% of the vote or 340 votes.
Charter amendments Proposition A that would make governing document language gender neutral was approved with 61.74% of the vote or 4,899 votes in favor and 38.26% of the vote or 3,036 votes against.
Proposition B that would require the city to post public notices on its website and social media in addition to in a newspaper was approved with 93.5% of the vote or 7,349 votes in favor and 6.5% of the vote or 511 votes against.
Proposition C that would increase the mayoral term from two to four years with a term limit of two consecutive terms was denied with 56.98% of the vote or 4,459 votes against and 43.02% of the vote or 3,367 votes in favor.
Proposition D that would decrease the number of required council meetings from 22 to 20 was approved with 51.79% of the vote or 3,995 votes in favor and 48.21% of the vote or 3,719 votes against.
Proposition E that would make it so each council meeting had an agenda item with the previous meeting minutes along with an item for approval of the minutes was approved with 93.33% of the vote or 7,154 votes in favor and 6.67% of the vote or 511 votes against.
Proposition F that would amend Section 3.13 of the city charter to correct a run-on sentence and clarify that printed copies of the code of ordinances may be available for purchase was approved with 87.63% of the vote or 6,688 votes in favor and 12.37% of the vote or 944 votes against.
Proposition G that would increase the time from 30 to 90 days for citizens to file a referendum to approve or reject legislation enacted by council was approved with 81.31% of the vote or 6,135 votes in favor and 18.69% of the vote or 1,410 votes against.
Proposition H that would increase the time from 45 to 60 days for the city clerk to determine whether a referendum, initiative or recall petition is properly signed was approved with 67.81% of the vote or 5,101 votes in favor and 32.19% of the vote or 2,421 votes against.
Proposition I that would increase the time from five to ten years for the Planning and Zoning Commission to do a periodic review of the comprehensive plan was denied with 73.38% of the vote or 5,550 votes against and 26.62% of the vote or 2,013 votes in favor.
Proposition J that would reorganize the provisions of Section 7.02(7) regarding the review of the city charter to Section 7.03, which focuses on the comprehensive plan, was approved with 74.8% of the vote or 5,111 votes in favor and 25.20% of the vote or 1,722 votes against.
Proposition K that would require plain language to be used in the city’s budget documents was approved with 95.26% of the vote or 7,377 votes in favor and 4.74% of the vote or 367 votes against.
Proposition L that would change the title of Article XII to Ethics, previously General Provisions, and would move sections unrelated to ethics to a new article, Article XIII called General Provisions was approved with 83.56% of the vote or 6,058 votes in favor and 16.4% of the vote or 1,192 votes against.
