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Two Weatherford City Council members partially blamed for last year’s controversial city electric rate hikes lost their seats Saturday — and had their terms recalled, according to unofficial election results.
Months after outraged residents prompted the resignation of the Weatherford city manager, incumbents Jan Barton and Mayor Pro Tem Clem Smith both lost re-election bids; 51.3 percent of voters supported a recall of Barton and 51.5 percent supported a recall of Smith."The people want change," said real estate developer Jerry Clinton, who beat out Barton to represent Place 1. "This was a change election, and I think the voters have spoken."Clinton drew 43.9 percent of the vote, to Barton’s 36.1 percent and IRS financial products specialist Heidi Wilder’s 20 percent. In Place 2, high school teacher James Hamilton won the seat with 45.9 percent, besting Smith, who drew 26.6 percent and Eric Matthews, chief financial officer of an Arlington insurance group, who received 27.5 percent, according to complete but unofficial returns.Barton and Smith both said that they were disappointed, but that they believe the recall election confused voters who were still upset about the electric rates that spiked last year.Hamilton, winner of Place 2, could not be reached for comment Saturday night.Some other contested area races, according to unofficial election results:Aledo City Council: John Lewis won with 65.6 percent of the vote, over Nicholas Holman, who drew 34.4 percent, in the race to replace departing Councilman Kyle Wortham.Aledo school board: Johnny Campbell easily won his re-election bid, with 68.7 percent, over challenger David Tillman, with 31.3 percent. Joe Dearing Jr. also won re-election, with 71.8 percent, over challenger Chris Griffin Sr.’s 28.2 percent.Roanoke City Council: Sharron Holland won the race to replace departing Ward 3 Councilman Victor Molaschi with 37 votes, or 53.6 percent, to Frank Temple’s 32 votes, or 46.4 percent.Burleson City Council: Stuart Gillaspie won re-election to Place 1, with 70.6 percent, to challenger Garry T. Scott’s 29.4 percent. Matt Powell kept his Place 3 seat, winning 65.2 percent to challenger Michael Cummings’ 34.8 percent. And Dan McClendon held on to his Place 6 post, winning 61.7 percent to challenger Tom French’s 38.3 percent.Cleburne City Council: Gayle White won with 71.2 percent, against Craig Nunn, who drew 28.8 percent, in the bid to replace departing Councilman Kyle Boles.Burleson school board: Pat Worrell won with 41.2 percent to Trey Schmoker’s 40.3 percent and Derek Stanley’s 18.5 percent in the race to replace Bob Spurlin.Cleburne school board: Wendell Dempsey won with 41.6 percent, in the race to replace outgoing Place 3 Trustee Jennifer Dugger. Tolin Naverrete earned 39.6 percent, Matt Snider drew 13.9 percent DeWayne Burnes picked up nearly 5 percent.Weatherford College Board: Four new trustees will guide the college after incumbents lost re-election races Saturday. Trev Dixon drew 57.3 percent to unseat board President and Place 3 Trustee Lin Bearden; Joel Watson drew 55.7 percent to best Place 4 Trustee Tom Novak, who got 44.3 percent; Trey Cobb picked up 57.4 percent to beat Place 5 Trustee Bob Lee, who received 42.7 percent; and Frank Martin earned 70.1 percent of the vote to best Place 6 Trustee Mayola Lasater, who drew 29.9 percent.Weatherford school board: Paul Paschall won re-election with 74 percent, to Paul Terpening’s 26 percent.ANNA M. TINSLEY, 817-390-7610
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