Early voting begins Monday for city race, school bond

Early voting begins Monday for Hondo’s one city council race, and for the Hondo ISD bond election.

Early voting runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Voting is closed on Tuesday (for San Jacinto Day), then resumes Wednesday, April 22 through Friday, April 24, and again on Monday and Tuesday, April 27-28. Polls are open each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Election day is Saturday, May 2, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In the city’s lone race, for City Council, Place 3, incumbent Jose Ytuarte is being challenged by Melissa Claire. 

Council member, Place 4, Rachel Ramirez is unopposed in her bid for a second term of office.

The HISD bond, which is divided into three proposals, will total $30 million. 

Prop. A is for the issuance of bonds in the amount of $25 million for school facilities, inclduing districtwide renovations at all campuses.

This will include upgrading HVAC systems, paving throughout the district, restroom renovations, security vestibules at Hondo HS and Woolls Intermediate, renovation of culinary arts classrooms at HHS, locker room renovations at McDowell MS, cafeteria expansion at Meyer Elementary, a districtwide intercom system, and renovation of the TxDOT garage for the HHS CTE programs.

Prop. B is a $3 million bond for school recreational facilities, including renovation of existing baseball and softball facilities, including dugouts, grandstands, concession stands and press box.

Prop. C is a $2 million bond for existing school stadium facilities, which will include replacement of visitor side restrooms and renovations of home side restrooms.

The proposals, if passed, will include a property tax increase of 2¢ per $100 valuation, estimated at $1.25 per month for an average valued home in the Hondo ISD. Residents with an over-65 exemption have their HISD tax bill frozen and will not be impacted by the increase.

Around the county, the Medina Valley ISD is electing two at-large trustees, with four on the ballot vying for two spots. Incumbents Nathan Fillinger and Blane Nash are on the ballot, along with challengers, Andrew Carawan and Toby Castillo Walters.

There are two single-member district races for the Castroville City Council.

In District 4, candidates are Tobin Shipp and David J. Ortega.

In District 5, Brittany Fowler and Valarie Solis are seeking election.

Voting for the Devine ISD, including two candidates for single member district 4, Nancy Pepper and Matthew Balderrama.

In Devine’s SMD 3, the candidates for trustee are Britny Stricker and Kristi Gentry.

Also on the ballot in the specifically named area is a proposition for the creation of Medina Valley Ranch Municipal Utility District. That is the first of six propositions

Prop B in the MVRMUD is to establish an operation and maintenance tax for the district not to exceed $1.20 per $100 valuation.

Prop C involves the issuance of $400 million in bonds for water, wastewater and drainage.

Prop. D is a $150 million bond for roads.

Prop. E is a $600 million bond for refunding water, wasteater and drainage system bonds.

Prop. F is a $225 million bond for refunding road bonds.

Finally, on the MVRMUD ballot, are five candidates seeking election as directors of the district. Five directors will be elected. They are Matthew Allen, Louis Espinar, Robert David Oestreich, Ricky Shumake and Wayne Springer.

Early voting locations include the Medina County Courthouse Annex, 1300 Ave. M, Hondo;

Medina County Pct. 2 Annex, 8366 FM 471 South, Castroville; and

Medina County Pct. 4 Annex, 317 SH 132 North, Devine.