SMDR Year in Review: Final months of 2020 feature elections, COVID increase

Editor’s note: This story is the final installment of a four-part series looking back at the year that was — 2020.

Hays County and San Marcos saw a break in COVID-19 in October, but cases began to surge in November and December. The final three months of the year brought a return to in-person learning at San Marcos Consolidated ISD, the general election and a runoff election. 

October 
San Marcos Consolidated ISD had students return to in-person learning for those who chose to on Oct. 5. SMCISD operated at approximately 50% throughout its campuses. 

Early voting began on Oct. 13 with an enthusiastic turnout. Hundreds lined up at the Hays County Government Center to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting. Over the first four days of early voting, 36,702 county residents voted. Early voting totals surpassed 2016 totals, according to national media outlets, Hays County was the first county in the country to surpass its 2016 total voter turnout. 

Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the 2020 Census was ended two weeks early. San Marcos saw a low self-response rate at 48.2%. Overall, Hays County tallied a 61% self-response rate. 

Following debate at multiple SMCISD Board of Trustees meetings, the board approved a one-time $500 retention incentive for district employees. The City of San Marcos announced its selection of Stan Standridge as its new Chief of Police on Oct. 22. With a dry start to fall, the city enacted Stage 1 drought restrictions, placing restriction on watering for residents. Texas State University announced it would hold in-person fall commencement ceremonies after COVID-19 restrictions prevented the university from celebrating graduation in the spring and summer semesters. 

Hays County found itself in the midst of a national controversy involving a campaign bus for former Vice President Joe Biden. The Biden campaign was scheduled to make a stop in San Marcos after it made a late push to contend in Texas. But the visit never happened after an accident occurred between an SUV following the bus and a black truck that was a part of a group of Trump supporters on northbound Interstate 35 near Exit 210 in San Marcos on Oct. 30. Following the incident, the San Marcos Police Department worked in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into the incident. 

Hays County saw recoveries from COVID-19 outpace new cases throughout October. The Hays County Local Health Department tallied 1,130 recoveries to 186 additional cases. 

November 
Election Day arrived in Hays County on Nov. 3. County residents help reelect State Representative Erin Zwiener and State Senator Judith Zaffirini. County Commissioner Pct. 3 Lon Shell was reelected. Sheriff Gary Cutler narrowly defeated challenger Alex Villalobos. In city races, Alyssa Garza defeated incumbent Ed Mihalkanin for city council place 3. Shane Scott won election to city council place 4 over incumbent Mark Rockeymoore. In a crowded field for mayor, incumbent Jane Hughson and challenger Juan Miguel Arredondo advanced to a runoff. Mark Gleason and Omar Back also moved onto a runoff for city council place 5. In SMCISD board elections, Arredondo won reelection and Mayra Mejia was elected as a trustee. In the U.S. Presidential Election, Biden was projected to win the race over President Donald Trump after the contest was called by the Associated Press on Nov. 7. 

The San Marcos City Council confirmed Standridge as the city’s new Chief of Police during its Nov. 4 meeting. Standridge began his position with SMPD on Nov.16. 

Garza and Scott were sworn into office on Nov. 16, while Arredondo and Mejia were sworn in as SMCISD trustees on the same night. 

Texas State’s volleyball team won its third consecutive Sun Belt championship on Nov. 22. 

Despite concerns of traffic around the area and possible flooding, the U.S. Postal Service opened its new San Marcos post office location at 900 Bugg Ln. on Nov. 23. 

Texas State football player Khambrail Winters, 20, was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Jo Anne Prado on Nov. 24. SMPD described the incident as a drug deal gone wrong. It was the third homicide in San Marcos in 2020. 

Although Hays County saw a slowdown in COVID-19 cases in October, cases began to increase in November. The local health department reported 1,202 additional cases, 720 recoveries and 14 fatalities throughout the month. 

December 
Following the Thanksgiving holiday, COVID-19 cases continued to rise throughout the county. Between Dec. 1-29, Hays County tallied 3,052 new cases, 2,012 recoveries and 21 fatalities. On Dec. 28, the county recorded an all-time high in new cases with 437. 

On Dec. 1, the San Marcos Public Library opened its newly-expanded portions of its building. On Dec. 4, the city honored SMPD Officer Ken Copeland, who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 4, 2017, by dedicating and renaming El Camino Real Park in his name. 

San Marcans revisited the polls on Dec. 8, this time for the city’s runoff elections. Mayor Jane Hughson was reelected and Gleason won election to council place 5. Both were sworn into office on Dec. 14.
Texas State University held in-person commencement ceremonies during the weekend of Dec. 10-12. 

To combat the spread of COVID-19, SMCISD announced a plan to limit student attendance during the first week after the holiday break. The decision was discussed during the district’s regular board meeting on Dec. 14, stating that students who needed to learn in person and those told they needed to be in class would attend on-campus instruction but many would be asked to learn virtually.