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City Council resolves 1,916–1,916 District 1 tie by lot; Everett Roy declared winner
Summary
Following a recount that ended in a 1,916–1,916 tie, the City Council supervised a tie-breaking drawing of numbered beads under Texas Election Code §2.028 and declared Everett Roy the District 1 council member. The council approved an ordinance amendment to record the result and scheduled a swearing-in for Jan. 14.
At a City Council meeting, officials resolved a tied recount for the District 1 city council seat by casting lots and declared Everett Roy the winner after the recount showed 1,916 votes for Everett Roy and 1,916 votes for Billy Lerma.
The tie-break followed procedures authorized by Texas Election Code section 2.028. City officials supervised a random draw using numbered beads, with candidates rolling dice to determine who would draw first. Everett Roy drew the higher-numbered bead and was declared the winner; the council then amended the canvassing ordinance to record the result and approved the ordinance as amended.
The recount totals — 1,916 votes for Billy Lerma and 1,916 votes for Everett Roy — were read aloud as part of the ordinance under consideration. To implement the tie-break, the mayor supervised the casting of lots: the candidates examined a box of beads numbered 1 through 10, rolled dice to determine order, and each drew a bead; the candidate drawing the higher number was declared the winner. The council formally amended section 4 of the ordinance to name Everett Roy as the District 1 council member and voted to approve the ordinance as amended; the motion was seconded by Council member Seckley Wright and the council carried the motion on a voice vote.
City officials announced that the newly elected District 1 council member will be sworn in at a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. No members of the public had signed up to speak during the public comment portion immediately before the action item.
City Manager Peter Zanoni and City Attorney Myles Risley were present for the meeting. The council adjourned following the vote and the scheduling of the swearing-in.
