Correction – 11/12/2020: The correct numbers for Keller mayoral race is Armin Mizani received 47 percent of the vote, and Green received 38 percent. Former Mayor Mark Matthews received 14 percent of the vote.
Correction – 11/6/2020: This article originally showed only one county constable seat flipped from Republican to Democrat, but there were two.
With one exception, Republican candidates were returned to power in countywide offices in Tarrant County. A number of tax hikes on ballots across the county passed, but citizen interests were advanced in two school districts.
Countywide Races
Citizens rehired incumbent Sheriff Bill Waybourn over his Democrat opponent Vance Keyes, 52-47 percent.
The power makeup of the county commissioners court remains unchanged, with Republican Gary Fickes and Democrat Roy Brooks re-elected with solid margins of 64 percent and 60 percent, respectively. Republicans maintain control with a 3-2 majority.
Republican County Tax Assessor-Collector Wendy Burgess was rehired with 55 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Ollie Boss Anderson, who received 44 percent of the vote.
Two Republican seats flipped; Democrat challenger Sandra Lee defeated incumbent Precinct 7 County Constable Clint Burgess, 53-46 percent, and Democrat Robert McGinty defeated eight-year Republican incumbent Precinct 2 County Constable David Woodruff.
All 11 district judicial offices on the ballot in Tarrant remain in Republican hands.
School District Races
Arlington Independent School District’s property tax hike barely won with a 174 vote margin, 50-49 percent.
Fort Worth ISD’s tax hike won 52-47 percent.
In the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board races, citizens finally managed a breakthrough, with Casey Ford defeating leftist-backed incumbent Doug Noell, 60-39 percent.
Newcomer Tommy Snyder, who was endorsed by Texas GOP Chair Allen West, is heading to a runoff against Casey Canter, a newcomer who was backed by leftists. Canter received 38 percent of the vote, Snyder received 31 percent, and Lori Crenshaw received 30 percent. Runoffs involve the top two vote-getters.
Incumbent Jorge Rodriguez, a self-identified Republican who was backed by Democrats and leftists, handily won re-election over Cacy Tischer, 52-47 percent.
Citizens of Northwest ISD soundly defeated four bonds and a property tax hike.
City Races
The sales tax hike on the ballot in the City of Arlington passed 55-44 percent.
In Burleson, citizens fired incumbent Mayor Ken Shetter—son of State Sen. Beverly Powell (D–Burleson)—in favor of challenger Chris Fletcher. Fletcher received 61 percent of the vote to Shetter’s 38 percent.
This summer, Shetter told the crowd at a Black Lives Matter rally, “We’re listening to you.”
In Keller, mayoral candidates Armin Mizani and Tag Green are heading to a runoff. Mizani received 47 percent of the vote, and Green received 38 percent. Former Mayor Mark Matthews received 14 percent of the vote.
Citizens will decide runoff races in December.
This article has been updated since publication.
