BELTON, Texas — City of Belton Place 4 Councilmember and Mayor David Leigh and Place 3 Councilmember Craig Pearson are both up for re-election and they could see another term because no one filed to run against them.
The month-long deadline to file ended last week and the deadline to file as a write-in candidate has also ended.
Mayor Leigh told 25 News' Bobby Poitevint, “Personally, I like running unopposed because it’s a guaranteed win. Professionally or in a community, I’d like to see more engagement, more involvement.”
Mayor Leigh told 25 News only about 500 of their 6,000 - 9,000 registered voters show up to vote.
Resident Elbert Emerson told 25 News he doesn’t hit the local polls often and added, “Not every year. Now the major elections, you know, presidents and governors.”
He believes the general election should still go on though.
He said, “I’m not participating all the time, but I still don’t like that idea.”
Other city officials told 25 News via email, over the last 10 years, they have canceled more than half of their elections due to lack of filers running in elections.
Bell County officials said this is legal and three other municipalities have canceled their elections for the same reason.
"This is a standard practice. It’s completely legal and is done to save tax payer dollars that would have been spent contracting with the county to conduct the election. In fact, three other municipalities, Bartlett, Little River, and Rogers, have canceled their May elections for the same reason," Bell County Public Information Officer James Stafford said via email sent to 25 News on Thursday.
While a typical election costs about $10,000, not having a general election in May, isn’t a big cost saver for taxpayers but there are other factors helping split election costs, according to Mayor Leigh.
He said, “So typically a city election would be paid solely by the city. This year we’re going to be electing officials to be able to represent our tax appraisal review board. We also have some other local entities that will be joining in, and so we’ll be to kinda share that cost and have one polling place.”
Belton City Council will consider an ordnance to cancel the May 4 general election during next Tuesday's city council meeting.
If that election is canceled it would not impact the Special Local Option Election that is scheduled for May 4.
