‘Duck Dynasty’ Uncle Si’s daughter wins bid for Hurst City Council

Uncle Si’s daughter landed a new job Saturday night.

Trasa Robertson Cobern, daughter of Si Robertson on the popular A&E reality show Duck Dynasty, won her first political office — Place 4 on the Hurst City Council.

Cobern, a history teacher at Euless Trinity High School, led in the vote count all night, eventually claiming 73 percent of the vote to senior analyst Jeff Childers’ 26 percent, according to complete and unofficial Tarrant County election results.

Cobern and Childers, both political newcomers, were vying to replace longtime incumbent Anna Holzer, who did not seek re-election.

“I am just humbled by the amount of people who have helped me out during this whole process,” Cobern said after early votes were posted.

Cobern, 40, said she thinks that her focusing on issues important to the family drew people out to support her.

“I think I’ve proven that I can get along well and work with our current council,” she said.

The Hurst council election and other Tarrant County races were being settled during Saturday’s local voting, along with dozens of others statewide.

Here’s an early look at other local city races according to unofficial Tarrant County Elections results.

Arlington Council District 1: Incumbent Charlie Parker picked up 69 percent of the vote to challenger Kelly Canon’s 30 percent, with five of six precincts reporting. Council District 7: Victoria Farrar-Myers claimed 73 percent of the vote to 26 percent earned by Chris “Dobi” Dobson, with 26 of 28 precincts reporting.

Azle Voters in Tarrant County supported a package of propositions that touch on issues ranging from expanding the mayor’s powers to requiring City Council candidates to live in the city at least a year before the election to allowing the council to abolish or consolidate city departments, according to complete voting reports.

Bedford Council Place 5: Incumbent Roy W. Turner claimed 57 percent of the vote to challenger Darryl Day’s nearly 43 percent, according to complete voting reports.

Blue Mound Voters approved a plan to let the Fort Worth Transportation Authority continue operating in Blue Mound with 77 percent in support and 22 percent opposed, complete election results show.

Colleyville Mayor: Incumbent David Kelly lost his bid for office, claiming 27 percent of the vote to the 62 percent drawn by challenger Richard Newton. Council Place 1: Incumbent Carol Wollin drew 37 percent of the vote to the 62 percent claimed by Tammy Nakamura. Council Place 2: Incumbent Chuck Mogged claimed 37.7 percent to Bobby Lindamood’s 62 percent, complete election results show.

Dalworthington Gardens Mayor: Incumbent Michael R. Tedder drew 18 percent to challenger Kimberly Fitzpatrick’s 81 percent. Alderman Place 2: Incumbent Guy B. Snodgrass picked up 60 percent to Bob Harvey’s nearly 40 percent, early voting results show.

Edgecliff Village Mayor: Dennis “Mickey” Rigney picked up 80 percent of the vote to Mel Washington’s 19 percent, according to complete election results.

Euless Council Place 1: Incumbent Tim Stinneford garnered 77 percent of the vote to challenger Tim St. Clair’s 22.9 percent. Council Place 3: Incumbent Eddie Price drew 72 percent to Aaron Lindeman’s 27.9 percent, according to complete results.

Forest Hill Council Place 1: Incumbent Cameron Wafer claimed 64 percent to challenger Jess Major’s 35 percent. Council Place 2: Stephanie Boardingham accrued 50.56 percent to Carlie Jones’s 49.44 percent. Council Place 3: Incumbent Brigette Mathis picked up 43 percent to challenger Michielle Benson’s nearly 57 percent, according to early returns.

Haltom City Council Place 6: Incumbent Stephanie Davenport drew 51.7 percent to challenger Linda Thompson’s 48.3 percent. A majority of voters — 61 percent — also voted for abolishing the local sales and use tax for the Type B Economic Development Corp., complete election results show.

Haslet Voters on a 93 percent vote supported reducing taxes allocated to the Haslet Economic Development Corp. and allocating some of that to be used to maintain and repair municipal streets, complete election results show.

Hurst Council Place 3 (mayor): Longtime Mayor Richard Ward claimed 60 percent of the vote to the 22 percent for Anita Thetford and 17 percent for Joel Downs, complete election results show.

Kennedale Voters supported most of the propositions that laid out rules regarding vacancies in office, forfeiture of office and meeting procedures. But Proposition 4, that would change city council terms to three years from the current two, failing. That proposal drew 44.44 percent for and 55.56 percent against, complete election results show.

Lake Worth Council Place 3: Incumbent Gene Ferguson drew 76 percent to challenger Michael Lampley’s 23 percent, complete election results show.

Pantego Town Council Place 2: Incumbent Donald R. Funderlic drew 52 percent of the vote to challenger Michael Duane Dement’s 47.7 percent. Town Council Place 3: Incumbent Jane Barrett claimed 69 percent of the vote to challenger Jesse Howell’s 30 percent, complete election results show.

Pelican Bay Mayor: Incumbent Bill Morley garnered 71 percent to challenger Ken “Fish” Wrinkle’s 28 percent. Alderman Place 1: Incumbent John K. Shumate drew 39 percent of the vote to challenger Nick Stephenson’s 60 percent, complete election results show.

Richland Hills Council Place 4: Incumbent Beverly Williams claimed 55 percent of the vote to challenger Javier Alvarez’s 44.9 percent. Voters also supported by a 54 percent approval vote a plan to continue the Fort Worth Transportation Authority in Richland Hills, complete election results show.

River Oaks Council Place 1: Incumbent JoAnn Butler drew 64 percent to challenger Sherrie Uptmore Dast’s 35 percent, complete election results show.

Sansom Park Mayor: Incumbent Jim Barnett Jr. drew 69 percent of the vote to challenger Roger Chavez’s 30 percent. Also, 84 percent of voters approved continuing the city’s crime control and prevention district sales tax for 20 years, complete election results show.

Trophy Club Council Place 5: Incumbent Greg Lamont claimed 69 percent of the vote to defeat challenger Renee Ongaro. At the same time, 77 percent of voters approved legalizing the sale of all alcoholic beverages, including mixed drinks, according to election results from Tarrant and Denton counties.

Watauga Council Place 1: Incumbent Hal Gerhardt picked up 66 percent of the vote to challenger Russell Clements’s 33.8 percent. Council Place 2: Incumbent Brandon Krausse claimed 52.8 percent of the vote, Walter C. Vaughn earned 24.5 percent and Albert “Al” Cardenas drew 22.6 percent. And 82.8 percent of voters agreed to reauthorize a local sales and use tax in the city, complete election results show.

Weatherford Mayor: Tom McLaughlin drew 23.7 to Craig Swancy’s 76 percent, complete election results show.

Westlake Mayor: Incumbent Laura Wheat drew 71 percent of the Tarrant County vote to challenger Colin Stevenson’s 28 percent. In the race for two council seats, incumbent Michael Barrett picked up 40 percent, incumbent Alesa Belvedere garnered 39 percent and challenger Sean Kilbridge claimed 20 percent, complete election results show.

Westover Hills City Council: In the race for five council seats, incumbents Elliot Goldman drew 16 percent, Marcus Snyder picked up 18 percent, Jack Koslow accrued 17 percent, John Thompson III garnered 17 percent and Kelly R. Thompson earned 18 percent. Challenger Tom McDonald earned 11 percent, complete election results show.

Westworth Village Proposition: 72 percent of voters signed off on reauthorizing the local sales and use tax for maintenance and repair of municipal streets, according to early voting results.

Willow Park Council Place 4: Hunter Stockon claimed 18.26 percent of the vote to James Mullins’s 29.7 percent and John Gholson’s 51.9 percent. Council Place 5: Tim Griffiths drew 40 percent of the vote to Marcy Galle’s 59.9 percent. And proposals to spend $4.6 million on bonds for public safety facilities and $2.2 million in bonds for street improvements appeared on their way to passage, with 58 percent and 65 percent of votes in support, complete election results show.

Staff writer Elizabeth Campbell contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 7:48 PM with the headline "‘Duck Dynasty’ Uncle Si’s daughter wins bid for Hurst City Council."