By Megan Wehring
HAYS COUNTY — Residents elected new officials, while also keeping some incumbents in their positions, during the Hays County elections on May 1.
Hays CISD Trustees
Incumbent Will McManus will return as the At-Large Trustee on the board and Courtney Runkle will fill the District 3 seat.
“We walked miles and miles of this district,” McManus said in a Facebook post, “talked to lots of people, staff and community members who love being here and only want the best for all of our students.”
Runkle has served as a volunteer parent in several areas and navigated the 504/Special Education Department at Hays CISD over the years.
“I am truly honored that you have elected me to serve as your next Hays CISD School Board Trustee for District 3,” Runkle said in a Facebook post. “I promise that I will continue to work hard for our students, teachers and staff across the district.”
As of Saturday night, McManus had 1,359 votes (54.71%) to challengers Donye Curry’s 1,010 votes (40.66%) and Bert Aguin’s 116 votes (4.63%). Runkle had 299 votes (66.08%) against challenger Richard W. Cronshey count at 153 (33.92%).
Hays CISD Bond Package
Hays CISD also held an election to propose a $238 million bond package.
With nearly 60% of the vote, Proposition A was approved to build a new elementary school and expand the current middle schools. Funds to buy new buses and land for future development are also in the package.
Proposition B, to renovate and rehabilitate the district’s assets, was also approved with 58% of the vote. Proposition F, which would provide more technology resources, was the final to be approved by nearly 63% of the vote.
Voters approved the most critical propositions, according to Tim Savoy, chief communication officer.
“[$191 million] was about 80% of the total bond funding that was up for consideration,” Savoy said. “Adding classroom space and building maintenance have long been critical needs in the district to keep up with growth in the area. The technology portion of the bond became more critical with the pandemic.”
Voters denied funds that would be directed to expand the Lehman and Johnson stadiums (Proposition C). Proposition D, which would improve Shelton Stadium and Lehman High School’s baseball and softball complexes, was also denied by about 55% of the voters.
Lastly, 53% voters did not support nearly $30 million to construct a new administration building at the Central Office location.
The Live Oak Academy expansion will likely be postponed, Savoy explained, until Hays CISD can find another place to relocate the Curriculum and Instruction Department.
“Most of the items will likely have to be addressed in future bonds,” Savoy said, “because they are too costly to use general operating revenue. Operating revenue is used for teacher and staff salaries, cost of living raises for employees, and classroom supplies and needs.”
Dripping Springs
Challenger Sherrie Parks defeated Incumbent Wm Travis Crow by 64.08% of the votes for Place 5 on the Dripping Springs City Council. For Place 3, Geoffrey Tahuahua defeated Charlie Busbey with 57.22% of the votes.
Stefani Reinold has been newly elected to the Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees as incumbents Shannon O’Connor and Mary Jane Hetrick hold onto their positions. Reinold received the most votes at 2,095. Hetrick followed with 1,717 and then O’Connor with 1,617.
Only the three with the most votes were elected to the DSISD Board.
About 8,740 residents, 6.2% of registered voters, cast their votes in the Hays County elections. A total of 141,065 residents are registered to vote in the county.
