Election Interest High For Mayoral Election
A vigorously contested and big-spending contest for Tyler mayor has stimulated high interest in Saturday's municipal election.
The contest also could boost the voting turnout for election contests for Tyler City Council District 6, Tyler Independent School District 4 and Place 9 on the Tyler Junior College Board. Early voting ended Tuesday with 2,256 ballots cast.
Candidates Barbara Bass and Laura Corbett brought in a record $125,000 between them in fundraising dollars for the Tyler mayoral campaign. A third candidate, Keith Alan Pyron, had a low-spending campaign.
Campaigning between Corbett and Bass has reached a fever pitch, but consistently has taken the high road centering on the positive attributes of the two candidates.
Both have been highly involved in community activities for years and each has managed to involve a significant number of avid supporters in their campaigns. A point on which there appears to be unanimous agreement is that both have outstanding qualifications to be mayor.
One City Council post, District 6, is contested in the election with Charles Alworth, the incumbent, being challenged by Larry Meckley.
A four-candidate race is to be decided by voters for the District 4, TISD board of trustees place. Dale Blackstone, Shirley Jordan, Tanya Roberson-Redic and Cody Savell are the candidates. The winner will fill the position vacated by Kristen Baldwin, who resigned last June because she moved from the district.
Residents of the Tyler Junior College District have one contested board position in the election. For Place 9, Melinda Coker, Steven Sherwood and Rohn Boone are seeking to succeed David Couch, who did not seek re-election.
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Recommendations Review
We offered our recommendations for election in each of these contests in editorial assessments earlier, before the start of early voting in most races.
Here is a review of those recommendations:
Tyler mayor - Laura Corbett gets our strongest endorsement. Her six years on the city council and four years on the sales tax board are unique qualifications for the job.
Tyler mayor - Laura Corbett gets our strongest endorsement. Her six years on the city council and four years on the sales tax board are unique qualifications for the job.
Tyler City Council, District 6 - Charles Alworth has been part of an effective and productive city team and merits re-election.
TISD school board District 4 - Cody Savell is the choice.
TJC trustee, Place 9 - Steven Sherwood is recommended to add a representative of more rural areas of the district to the board.
A salute always is deserved by all who offer their services for important elective positions in the community, which are jobs that offer no salaries but require a lot of time and effort from those chosen by the voters. All candidates are to be commended for their willingness to serve.
Perhaps the best way voters can express their appreciation to all candidates is to participate in voting Saturday.
