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Tyler council canvasses May election returns, cancels unopposed District 5 race and administers oaths to council members
Summary
City council canvassed results for Districts 1 and 3, affirmed cancellation and designation of an unopposed District 5 candidate under the Texas Election Code, and administered certificates and oaths of office to council members for Districts 1, 3 and 5; the council also elected Councilmember Nichols as mayor pro tem.
At the city council's May meeting, the council canvassed the returns for the city council election and adopted an ordinance declaring the results, affirmed the cancellation of the scheduled District 5 election because the candidate ran unopposed, and administered certificates of election and oaths of office to re-elected and newly elected council members.
A city staff speaker identified as Cassandra presented the canvass item and cited the Texas Election Code, including section 67.003 and provisions numbered 2.051 through 2.054 as authorizing the council to cancel an unopposed race and declare the unopposed candidate elected. Cassandra read certified vote totals reported for Districts 1 and 3: District 1 — Stuart Haney 375 votes, write-in Matt Stuart 61 votes; District 3 — Shonda Marsh 247 votes, write-in Christian Gooden 27 votes. She said the city clerk certified that the District 5 candidate was unopposed and that the council had previously adopted ordinance 25-11 canceling the regular District 5 election.
The council moved to adopt the ordinance affirming the results and cancellation; a motion by Haney and second by Curtis carried by voice vote.
Council then administered certificates of election and the oath of office to the re-elected member for District 1, the newly elected member for District 3 and the District 5 member who was declared elected after the cancellation. While the oath language was read at the dais, the transcript records repetitions and some overlapping words during the administrations.
Separately during the meeting, council nominated and elected Councilmember Nichols as mayor pro tem; the motion to appoint Nichols (moved in the meeting and seconded) carried by voice vote.
