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Home My WebLink AboutPO 7421: CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS AND ORDERING A RUNOFF ELECTION P.O. No. 7421 05/05/2026 CWN ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, HELD ON MAY 2, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCILMEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 4 IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND ORDERING A RUNOFF ELECTION ON JUNE 13, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCILMEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS 1, 3 AND 4 AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE ELECTION ORDER AND NOTICE WHEREAS,the City of Port Arthur is a home rule city with a governing body composed of a Mayor and six (6) Councilmembers as delineated below: District/At-Large Position Term Expiration of Term Charlotte Moses Mayor 3-year May 2028 Councilmembers: Willie "Bat" Lewis 1 3-year May 2026 Tiffany Hamilton-Everfield 2 3-year May 2026 Doneane Beckcom 3 3-year May 2026 Harold Doucet, SR 4 3-year May 2026 Thomas Kinlaw 5 3-year May 2027 Donald Frank, Sr. 6 3-year May 2027 WHEREAS, the term for Councilmembers of District 1, 2, 3, and 4 expired in May 2026; and WHEREAS, on February 10, 2026, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 26-04 that called for a General Election for the purpose of electing Councilmembers for Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4; and WHEREAS, the City Secretary certified that the following candidates filed for the offices of Councilmember Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4: 1 For District 1 Artrell McCullar, Sr Taylor Getwood Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr. For District 2 Carroll J. Jones Hollan Hoffer For District 3 Charlie Lewis, Jr. Doneane Beckcom Warren Pena For District 4 Chuck Vincent Lloyd Marie Reado Johnson Kaala Jacobs WHEREAS, the City Council has a duty to canvass the returns, pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Election Code. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. That the returns of said General Election, after being canvassed by the City Council, are found, and declared to be true and correct. There were cast at said election for the respective candidates the number of votes as shown on the tabulated statements that are attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit"A" and as delineated below: Councilmember District 1: Artrell McCullar, Sr. 159 Taylor Getwood 453 Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr. 406 2 Councilmember District 2: Carroll J. Jones 232 Hollan Hoffer 122 Councilmember District 3: Doneane Beckcom 266 Charlie Lewis, Jr. 281 Warren Pena 355 Councilmember District 4: Chuck Vincent 357 Lloyd Marie Johnson 131 Kaala Jacobs 466 Section 3. Therefore, Carroll J. Jones is hereby declared to be elected Councilmember for District 2. That the term for the Councilmember for District 2 shall commence on the date that Carroll J. Jones is duly qualified and shall expire in May 2029, or until his successor has been elected and duly qualified. Section 4. That it is declared that there were more than two (2) candidates for the office of Councilmember District 1 and no candidate received a majority of all votes cast for the office. Willie"Bae" Lewis and Taylor Getwood are presently the two (2) candidates who received the highest number of votes for Councilmember District 1. Section 5. That it is declared that there were more than two (2) candidates for the office of Councilmember District 3 and no candidate received a majority of all votes cast for the office. Charlie Lewis, Jr. and Warren Pena are presently the two (2) candidates who received the highest number of votes for Councilmember District 3. Section 6. That it is declared that there were more than two (2) candidates for the office of Councilmember District 4 and no candidate received a majority of all votes cast for the office. Chuck Vincent and Kaala Jacobs are presently the two (2) candidates who received the highest number of votes for Councilmember District 4. 3 Section 7. That the City Council shall therefore be composed of the following members: District/Position Term Expiration of Term Charlotte Moses Mayor 3-year May 2028 Councilmembers Willie "Bae" Lewis 1 3 year Until Successor is duly qualified Carroll J. Jones 2 3 year May 2029 Doneane Beckcom 3 3 year Until Successor is duly qualified Harold Doucet, SR 4 3 year Until Successor is duly qualified Thomas J. Kinlaw, III 5 4 year May 2027 Donald Ray Frank, Sr. 6 4 year May 2027 Section 8. That based on the representations of the County Clerk, that she conducted the Election in accordance with state, local and federal law, and based on the presumption under the law that the election judges are presumed to have done their duty, the City Council has determined that the General Election was duly called, ordered, and held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas,the Charter of the City of Port Arthur, Ordinance 26-04, that the Order for the conduct of the Joint General returns thereof, have been made by the proper officials, and that the May 2, 2026, election resulted in the need for a Runoff, with no candidate for Councilmember in Districts 1, 3 and 4 receiving the majority of votes as required. Section 9. That the Special Runoff election is hereby ordered and is to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, for the purpose of electing the positions of Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3 and 4. 4 Section 10. That once elected, the term of the new Councilmembers for Districts 1, 3 and 4 shall commence on the date that the candidate is duly qualified and shall expire on May 2029, or until his/her respective successor shall have been duly qualified. Section 11. That this Runoff Elections shall be held jointly with Jefferson County in accordance with Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code and the County Election Official has agreed to coordinate, supervise, and handle all aspects of administering said joint runoff election in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Election Code as outlined in the terms of the agreement adopted by Ordinance No. 26-06. Section 12. That the Mayor shall cause notice of the runoff election to be given in accordance with Section 4.003 of the Texas Election Code by publishing a copy of this Ordinance together with a copy of said order being in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit"B", shall be posted on the bulletin board used for posting notices of the meetings of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur at least twenty-one (21) days before the election. Section 13. That the Notice of Election shall include the location of each polling place and shall comply with Exhibits "B" and "B-1", attached hereto in substantially the same form and made a part hereof. Section 14. That pursuant to Section 67.003 of the Election Code, the City Council of the City of Port Arthur shall meet on June 24, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., and officially canvass the returns and declare the results of said Runoff Election for Councilmembers in Districts 1, 3 and 4. The respective candidates receiving a majority of the votes cast at said Runoff Election shall be declared to be elected as Councilmember District 1, Councilmember District 3, and Councilmember District 4. 5 Section 15. That this being an Ordinance for which publication is not required under the Charter of the City of Port Arthur, it shall not be published but shall take effect and be in force immediately from and after its passage. Section 16. That a copy of the caption of this Ordinance be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of May, A.D., 2026, at a Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Councilmembers NOES: CHARLOTTE M. MOSES, MAYOR ATTEST: SHERRI BELLARD, CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: ROXANN PAIS COTRONEO, CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: RON BURTON, CITY MANAGER 6 EXHIBIT "A" (TO BE PRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING) 7 EXHIBIT "B" 8 Exhibit"B" ORDER AND NOTICE OF A RUNOFF ELECTION IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS JEFFERSON COUNTY TEXAS Notice is hereby given that the City of Port Arthur will hold a Runoff Election for the purpose of electing Councilmembers for District 1, District 3, and District 4 on Saturday, June 13, 2026, between the hours 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. I, Charlotte Marie Moses, Mayor of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, as authorized by the City Council, do hereby order and give notice of a Runoff Election to be held in the City of Port Arthur,Texas, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for the purpose of electing Councilmembers for District 1, District 3, and District 4 in the City of Port Arthur attached as Exhibit"B". The term of office for the Councilmembers shall be for a period of three years until his/her respective successor shall have been elected and duly qualified. Said election shall be by Electronic Voting System as provided in Section 123.001 of the Election Code, Section 9.004, et eq., Local Government Code and the City Charter. Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted beginning June 1, 2026 through June 9, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. , on Saturday, June 6, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 7, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. City Hall, 444 Fourth Street Port Arthur Public Library, 4615 Ninth Avenue Charlotte M. Moses, Mayor City of Port Arthur 9 EXHIBIT "B-1" (TO BE PRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING) 10