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Tuesday’s election in Rio Vista may be the last round in the back-and-forth fight over liquor sales in this tiny Johnson County town.
Voters approved liquor sales 133-86, and though the results are unofficial, Johnson County Elections Administrator Patty Bourgeois said this is the widest margin in favor of alcohol sales since the first election, in 2005. Six elections have been held in four years, she said.Brenda Hall, who initiated the liquor elections, said it is time to move forward."I hope these people who have fought us over the years will leave us alone," she said. Hall’s daughter Wendi owns Rio Vista Liquors, one of the two package stores now open in the community of around 770 people.Pamela West, who has challenged two other elections because of concerns over voting irregularities, said she is disappointed."I don’t plan to do any more litigation. I’m not going to contest this election; there are too many votes to go through," she said.But West said she intends to submit information to the Texas secretary of state and the federal Justice Department over what she calls voter irregularities.In June, a visiting judge invalidated the May 9 liquor election after it was learned that Hall’s husband was on parole when he signed his voter registration card two years ago. He was in violation of the state’s election code and ineligible to sign the election petition and to vote.Also, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission filed an injunction to close the liquor stores after the election was voided, but Hall said no hearing was held.ELIZABETH CAMPBELL, 817-390-7696
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