RandySF
RandySF's JournalPlano leaders vote to hold DART withdrawal election next spring
Leaders in Plano want voters to decide next year whether or not to withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system.
The Plano City Council voted 8-0 Wednesday to hold an election next May, following a similar move made Tuesday by Highland Park and Farmers Branch.
All three cities have raised concerns that they pay more into the system than they get out. Plano is one of seven cities DART calls “donor cities” that were recently eligible for a return of funds as part of the agency’s General Mobility Program.
"Supporting a withdrawal election doesn't mean abandoning public transportation," said council member Steve Lavine. "It means giving Plano citizens, all of them, the right to decide whether DART as it exists today is the best way forward."
https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-11-05/plano-dart-withdrawal-election-vote
Mayor-Elect: Golf course controversy helped drive Council Bluffs election outcome
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — A debate about the future of a Council Bluffs public golf course may have played a pivotal role in Tuesday's mayoral election, where City Council member Jill Shudak defeated incumbent Mayor Matt Walsh.
KMTV talked to Shudak and incoming City Councilman Cole Button to discuss the changes coming to city government.
The mayor-elect says a plan to develop Dodge Park and the Riverside Golf Club into housing had a significant impact on the election outcome.
"Absolutely, it did. Not only my victory but my decision to run for mayor," Shudak said.
https://www.3newsnow.com/council-bluffs/mayor-elect-golf-course-controversy-helped-drive-council-bluffs-election-outcome
Franklin County fire levy still faring well in general election after second count of votes
After a second tally of votes, a measure to increase the levy for Franklin County Fire District 1 from 39 cents to 85 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value continues to lead with 52% of the vote.
In the City of Pasco, several city council races are at stake.
In District 1, Position 1, Mark Anthony Figueroa is leading with 98.24% of the vote. For District 3, Position 3, Leo A. Perales is ahead with 69.76%, while Bryan Verhei has 30.07%. In District 6, Position 6, Melissa Blasdel holds a narrow lead with 51.83% over Calixto Hernandez, who has 47.97%.
Meanwhile, in Walla Walla County, Michael Cleveland is progressing in the uncontested mayoral race for the City of College Place.
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/elections/franklin-county-fire-levy-still-faring-well-in-general-election-after-second-count-of-votes/article_a022e8b7-d6a5-48c7-88f1-212be473f09f.html
Her (D) makes history as first woman and Hmong American elected St. Paul mayor
St. Paul has elected its first ever Hmong mayor and its first ever woman to lead the city.
Just after midnight on Wednesday, Rep. Kaohly Her won Tuesday’s election over incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter after a tabulation of second-choice votes. She had nearly 48 percent of the vote to Carter’s 45.
Her victory makes not only history for the St. Paul mayor’s office, but is also a first for the entire leadership of the city — the city council is made up of all women.
She beat out Carter and three other challengers — Yan Chen, Adam Dullinger and Mike Hilborn.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/11/05/kaohly-her-wins-st-paul-mayor
Who is on the Minneapolis City Council for the next four years?
Mayor Jacob Frey has been re-elected to a third term, but when that term begins next January, he'll be working with a slightly different city council for the next four years.
The current council has a veto-proof majority that has often clashed with the mayor over issues including the Labor Standards Board, which Frey said needed more business representation to be fair; the Gaza ceasefire resolution and the council’s move to deny cost of living raises for some of the city’s highest paid employees as a way to lower the property tax levy increase.
This time around, the council will likely maintain that majority — but may not have the votes to be veto-proof. It takes nine votes to overturn the mayor’s veto, which was the case when the city council overturned his veto of their 2025 budget.
There was one major upset: the defeat of Ward 7 incumbent Katie Cashman by Park and Recreation Board member Elizabeth Shaffer in the most expensive city council race of the election. Shaffer is more aligned with Frey than Cashman, who often — but not always — voted with the majority.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/11/05/minneapolis-city-council-next-four-years
GOP bill to ban ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin spurs intraparty debate
A Republican bill that would ban absentee ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin spurred debate among GOP lawmakers Tuesday about whether the proposal is based in reality.
The discussion highlighted a potential rift in the party between those who think the GOP should pass election bills that could become law in Wisconsin and those who want Republicans to closely adhere to the wishes of President Donald Trump.
During a Tuesday hearing before the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, state Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, said her legislation “might be one of the shortest bills of the session.” With just one line, it states “no municipality may employ a drop box” for collecting absentee ballots.
Since 2020, drop boxes have become a flashpoint in states like Wisconsin because Trump and others have claimed, without confirmed evidence, that they’re a source of widespread election fraud.
https://www.wpr.org/news/gop-bill-ban-ballot-drop-boxes-wisconsin-intraparty-debate
Schools bonds have become a tough sell in Michigan. Not this time
Michigan voters approved school bonds requests at a slightly higher rate Tuesday than in recent elections.
Voters approved 64.6% of school bond requests, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of Gongwer News Service election data.
School districts can use bonds to pay for major projects but they must ask voters for permission to borrow money.
In recent years, school bonds have been less popular with voters, despite tax proposals for police, roads, libraries, parks and senior citizens largely passing, according to a joint investigation by Gongwer News Service and Bridge Michigan.
https://bridgemi.com/talent-education/michigan-voters-split-on-school-bonds-yes-in-novi-zeeland-no-in-lake-orion/
Novi, South Lyon voters OK big-dollar school bonds, but Lake Orion's $272M bid falls short
Novi — Two out of three school districts in Oakland County succeeded Tuesday in getting approval of their high-priced bond proposals, while voters in the Lake Orion school district narrowly defeated the $272 million measure — the lowest price tag of the trio.
The Novi Community School District's $425 million bond measure passed 63%-37%. District officials had said the proposed bond over 30 years wouldn't result in a tax increase because of rising property values, the retirement of older debt and the ability to refinance debt.
The new money will be used to renovate significant portions of the 50-year-old high school, put additions on elementary buildings and build a middle school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) center, school officials said.
"This will bring world-class facilities and opportunities to our children and help us continue our positive momentum," Superintendent Ben Mainka said in a statement to district families. "Thank you to each of you who helped provide feedback, talk about it with your neighbors, stay informed and ask great questions, and every little thing that was done to support this bond passage."
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/11/04/novi-south-lyon-voters-support-big-dollar-425m-350m-school-bond-issues/87068378007/
McGuinness elected mayor in Pontiac; Republican in lead for Southfield clerk; Troy bond fails
Pontiac City Council President Mike McGuinness vowed to continue to improve services to the city's neighborhoods and make other changes to build on the city's revival after he was elected mayor on Tuesday, defeating a former City Councilman.
Mike McGuinness beat former city councilor Kermit Williams 55%-45% and will succeed Mayor Tim Greimel, who is running for Michigan's 10th Congressional District.
“We have to keep building on our recent successes as a city, keep getting stronger and improving neighborhood services, and we can have a brighter future," McGuinness said in remarks after the results were reported.
Because Pontiac has a strong mayor form of government, McGuinness will serve as both the city's administrator and figurehead. He'll take the city's helm amid an FBI investigation into public corruption allegations surrounding current and former city officials.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/11/04/mcguinness-williams-pontiac-mayor-race-republican-grossbard-democrats-write-in-southfield-clerk/87072057007/
Michael Taylor and Laura Kropp reelected mayors of Sterling Heights and Mount Clemens
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said he wants to continue to steward the redevelopment of Lakeside Mall in his next term after being reelected to a new term in Tuesday's general election.
Taylor, who has served as Sterling Heights' mayor since 2014, won 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Matthew Ryan's 34%.
Taylor was one of several incumbent mayors, including Mount Clemens Mayor Laura Kropp, who won new terms.
"I feel very good," he said of the election results. "I'm gratified, very thankful to the voters and constituents who've put their faith in me again."
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/11/04/taylor-kropp-lead-races-for-mayor-for-two-macomb-county-cities/87064738007/
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Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit Area, MI
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Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 01:53 PM
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