Government - page 44

Below are the contested races in Orange County in the May election. Winners are noted in bold.

City of Orange

City of Orange Mayor, Three-year term
Precincts: 4 / 4 (100% reporting)
Larry Jr. Spears 91% 1,460 votes
Charles Thomas 9% 151 votes
Vote Total: 1,611

City of Orange Council Place One, Three-year term
Precincts: 4 / 4 (100% reporting)
David C. Bailey 51% 145 votes
Patrick A. Pullen 49% 138
Vote Total: 283

City of Bridge City

Bridge City ISD Place One
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Paul Zoch 52% 533 votes
Patty Collins 48% 501 votes
Vote Total: 1,034

Bridge City ISD Place Two
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Judy Cole 68% 702 votes
Caleb Hayes 32% 326 votes
Vote Total: 1,028

City of Bridge City City Council Place One, 2 year
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Aaron Roccaforte 65% 484 votes
Carl Harbert 35% 259 votes
Vote Total: 743

City of Bridge City City Council Place Three, 2 year
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Tammi Fisette 59% 440 votes
John P. Nickum 41% 304 votes
Vote Total: 744

City of Bridge City City Council Place Five, 2 year
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Terri Gauthier 58% 427 votes
Kenneth Prosperie, Sr. 42% 315 votes

City of  Pinehurst

City of Pinehurst Alderperson, One-year unexpired
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Greg Willis 57% 82 votes
Kerri Donnaud Arrington 43% 62 votes
Vote Total: 144

City of Pinehurst Alderperson, Two-year term (3 seats)
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Sarah McClendon 27% 87 votes
Johnny Asevedo 25% 81 votes
J. Michael Shahan 20% 63 votes
Troy Pierce 15% 48 votes
Joe Vance 13% 43 votes
Vote Total: 322

City of  Vidor

City of Vidor Mayor (Runoff election required)
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Misty Songe 48% 339 votes
Ronnie Herrera 32% 227 votes
Seth LaPray 20% 145 votes
Vote Total: 711

City of Vidor Council Ward One
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Kelly Carder 50% 343 votes
Joseph Webb 50% 341 votes
Vote Total: 684

City of  West Orange

City of West Orange Mayor
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Randy Branch 69% 263 votes
James (Jim) Whittington 31% 120 votes
Vote Total: 383

City of West Orange Aldermen (2 seats)
Precincts: 1 / 1 (100% reporting)
Brent Dearing 35% 190 votes
Meritta Kennedy 34% 183 votes
Jay Odom 31% 171 votes
Vote Total: 544

Natural disasters will continue to happen, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prepare yourself during the 2021 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday for emergencies that can cause physical damage like hurricanes, flash floods, and wildfires. You can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax-free during the sales tax holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to give an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.

This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 26.

Online Purchases and Telephone Orders
To encourage social distancing, the Texas Comptroller’s office wants all taxpayers to know that during the Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday, the sale of emergency preparation supplies purchased online or by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means other than in-person qualify for sales tax exemption when either

• the item is both delivered to, and paid for, by the customer during the exemption period; or
• the customer orders and pays for the item and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period.
• A seller accepts an order when the seller has acted to fill the order for immediate shipment.

An order is for immediate shipment regardless of whether the shipment is delayed due to a backlog of orders, or because stock is currently unavailable to, or on backorder by, the seller.

In-Store Purchases
The Comptroller strongly encourages all taxpayers to buy emergency preparation supplies at their local retailers during the sales tax holiday to practice appropriate social distancing as described in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

A complete list of what may be purchased can be found here.

The May 1, 2021, General Election is rapidly approaching in the City of Orange.

Positions up for election May 1, 2021, include:

• Mayor (At-Large)
• Council Member Place 1 (Single-Member District 1)

Early Voting Polling Locations include:

• Orange Public Library (Ira Williamson Meeting Room), 220 N. Fifth Street, Orange, Texas
• Bridge City ISD Admin. Bldg. (Board Room), 1031 W. Roundbunch Road, Bridge City, Texas
• Raymond Gould Community Center, 385 Claiborne, Vidor, Texas
• Orange County Convention & Expo Center (Dupont Room), 11475 Highway 1442, Orange, Texas

Early voting hours are 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM from April 19-27 and two twelve-hour days on April 21 and 27 from 7 AM – 7 PM at the locations above.

Applications for voting by mail need to be received no later than the closing of business on April 20, 2021, and should be mailed to: Tina Barrow, Administrator, Orange County Elections Administration, 123 S. Sixth St., Orange, TX 77630.

Election Day Polling Locations include:

• District 1 – Salvation Army Building (Lobby), 1950 Martin Luther King Drive, Orange, Texas
• District 2 – Little Cypress Intermediate School (Foyer), 2300 Allie Payne Road, Orange, Texas
• District 3 – North Early Learning Center (Parent Involvement Room #201), 801 Cordrey Avenue, Orange, Texas
• District 4 – West Orange – Cove CISD, Education Service Center/Administration Building (Outreach Room #103), 902 West Park Avenue, Orange, Texas

City of Orange Fire Chief, David Frenzel, discussed the purchase of two (2) high water rescue vehicles during the Orange City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 13. The vehicles will be partially paid for through an Infrastructure Grant from the Texas General Land Office as a part of Disaster Relief from Hurricane Harvey. The remainder of the funding will be used from the Orange Fire Department donations, Orange Police Department donations, and City Reserves.

The Orange City Council agreed on the purchase of two (2) high water rescue vehicles that will be delivered and available for service during the 2021 hurricane season