Cedar Park Election: Detailed Results Released

CEDAR PARK, TX — Cedar Park elections officials released detailed numbers from Saturday's election.

Registered voters selected a new mayor and three new council members. Additionally, a proposition to redirect a portion of sales tax revenue to fund a storm water drainage program and 21 amendments to the city charter passed as well.

Four-year city council Member Corbin Van Arsdale won the position of Mayor with 69.65 percent of the vote (3711 votes) over Bob Cornelius who received 30.35 percent (1617 votes).

“Our family literally loves Cedar Park," Van Arsdale said after clinching the mayoral seat. "It’s been good to us, and given us a wonderful and safe place to live. So it will be a real honor to continue serving Cedar Park residents on the Council as Mayor, and work with all of our Council Members, all of our staff, and all of our residents – to keep this great thing we have going, and make it even better!”

Mel Kirkland won the Place Two seat with 55.44 percent of the vote (3113 votes) over Michael Thompson who received 44.56 percent (2502 votes).

“I’d like to thank everyone involved," Kirkland said. "It was a hard fought race. I thank all of the candidates who ran and I thank everyone who voted. I look forward to serving the citizens of Cedar Park with our current and new City Council Members for the betterment of our community.”

Michael Guevara won Place Four with 56.85 percent (3207 votes) over Patrick Walz who received 43.15 percent (2434 votes).

"I want to thank everyone involved, all of the volunteers, and I want to thank voters," Guevara said.
"I look forward to serving with the current and newly elected Council Members and also with the staff, in keeping Cedar Park’s identity that it has and the promises that we make.”

Dorian Chavez won the Place Six seat with 54.15 percent of the vote (3060 votes) over Shellie Hayes-McMahon who received 45.85 percent (2591 votes).

“I definitely want to thank all of my volunteers, including my wife and my three sons who were a huge help, and my opponents because they really gave me the courage to shout my beliefs from the rooftops," Chavez said. "It gave me a lot of strength and motivation to run. I also want to thank the voters and most important I want to thank God and thank everyone for their prayers.”

In other election results:

Stormwater Drainage (Proposition A)

Proposition A – Stormwater Drainage – Redirect one-fourth of revenue (or 1/8 of one cent) from the Type A Sales Tax Fund to the City’s General Fund to provide revenue for stormwater drainage and related street repairs passed with 77.21 percent (4295 votes).

City Charter Amendments (Propositions B-V)

Proposition B – Vacancies – Amend Section 3.06 of the City Charter to require, within 90 days of approval of this proposition, Council’s adoption of a procedure for appointments to Council with a “freeze” provision voicing any procedural amendments adopted within the 90 days immediately preceding the vacancy passed with 73.5 percent (3739 votes).

Proposition C – Vacancies – Amend Section 3.06 of the City Charter to disqualify an appointee from candidacy for any place on the City Council for the next general or special election following their appointment passed with 55.48 percent (2842 votes).

Proposition D – Prohibitions: Interference with Administration – Amend Section 3.08 of the City Charter to clarify prohibition against interference with administration regarding appointment and removal of City staff (excepting the City Manager and City Attorney) passed with 81.96 percent (4197 votes).

Proposition E – Prohibitions: Attorney-Client Privilege – Amend Section 3.08 of the City Charter to expressly prohibit any member of the City Council from disclosing attorney-client privileged information without an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the City Council passed with 75.62 percent (3995 votes).

Proposition F – Bonds for City Employees – Delete Section 3.15 of the City Charter because this risk is covered by the City’s existing errors and omissions and public employee dishonesty insurance policies, and bonded employees exempted from coverage passed with 83.69 percent (4263 votes).

Proposition G – City Secretary – Amend Section 4.04 of the City Charter to clarify direction of the City Secretary by the City Manager instead of City Council passed with 74.97 percent (3852 votes).

Proposition H – Public Safety – Amend Section 4.05 of the City Charter regarding the Police Department to contemplate Public Safety, generally, to include one or more departments (for example, police department, fire department) passed with 87.85 percent (4568 votes).

Proposition I – Eligibility: Residency – Amend Section 5.02 of the City Charter to require 12 months of continuous residency immediately preceding the date of the election in accordance with State law passed with 86.48 percent (4665 votes).

Proposition J – Eligibility: City Employees - Amend Section 5.02 of the City Charter to delete the provision prohibiting employees from candidacy per State law passed with 75.78 percent (3886 votes).

Proposition K – Eligibility: Resignation upon Candidacy for Other Office – Amend Section 5.02 of the City Charter to require a Councilmember’s resignation upon their filing for any other elective office except City Council passed with 77.5 percent (4009 votes).

Proposition L – Petitions – Amend Section 6.04 of the City Charter to delete the provision requiring the City Secretary’s voiding of signatures as recommended by the Texas Secretary of State passed with 70.75 percent (3497 votes).

Proposition M – Zoning Authority – Amend Sections 7.01 and 7.02 to require the City Council’s adoption of Comprehensive Plan and provide zoning authority per State law passed with 86.45 percent (4376 votes).

Proposition N – Planning and Zoning Commission – Amend Sections 7.03 and 7.04 of the City Charter to delete redundancies in State law and/or the Cedar Park Code of Ordinances passed with 88.28 percent (4566 votes).

Proposition O – Zoning Board of Adjustment – Amend Sections 7.05 and 7.06 of the City Charter to delete redundancies in State law and/or the Cedar Park Code of Ordinances passed with 88.26 percent (4556 votes).

Proposition P – Power to Tax – Amend Section 9.01 to clarify the authority and responsibilities of the City, Council, and staff passed with 89.11 percent (4630 votes).

Proposition Q – Tax Administration – Amend Amend Sections 9.02 through 9.04 of the City Charter to clarify the role of the county Tax Assessor/Collector in the assessment and levy of property taxes in accordance with State law passed with 90.57 percent (4706 votes).

Proposition R – Tax Administration – Amend Sections 9.05 through 9.07 of the City Charter to delete provisions regarding payment and collection of property taxes in deference to State law passed with 77.09 percent (3836 votes).

Proposition S – Tax Administration – Delete Section 9.08 of the City Charter in deference to State law providing for preemption of any Charter provision that conflicts with State law passed with 80.51 percent (3953 votes).

Proposition T – Public Records – Amend Section 11.02 of the City Charter in deference to State law requiring maintenance and access to public records via the Public Information Act passed with 87.08 percent (4408 votes).

Proposition U – Amend Section 11.17 of the City Charter to expressly follow State law and provide that all State law references shall be construed to include the governing provisions as now and hereafter amended passed with 85.74 percent (4252 votes), and

Proposition V – Amend the City Charter throughout to replace gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral pronouns passed with 53.57 percent (2941 votes).

More detailed information on Mayor and City Council Candidates can be found by clicking here. More information on Proposition A – Stormwater Drainage is available at www.CedarParkTexas.gov/PropA. More detailed information on Propositions B through V – City Charter Amendments is available at www.CedarParkTexas.gov/PropsB-V.

The winning propositions become effective upon canvassing of election results, city officials noted. The new mayor and city council members will be sworn into office at a city council meeting ceremony after the election results are canvassed. The dates for election results canvassing and the swearing-in ceremony will be announced soon, officials said.

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