Polk boasts better turnout than usual

From Enterprise Staff

A little over 41% of the registered voters in Polk County voted in the Nov. 8 general election, a much higher percentage than usual. The higher than usual turnout could be attributed to widespread interest in the governor’s race in which Incumbent Greg Abbott was challenged by Beto O’Rourke, unsuccessfully, or it may have been the hotly contested Livingston ISD school board race in which eight people, two of them incumbents, were vying for four spots on the board.

Marty Drake and Kevin Wooten were the incumbents seeking reelection to the board. The two other seats were open. Following several terms on the board, Ben Ogletree III did not seek reelection. Krissa Bass Humphries resigned from the board in August and Alex Garcia was appointed to fill the unexpired term but did not opt to run for election to the board.

The other six people running were Andrew Boyce, Kevin Grimm, Chris Moehlmann, John Whiteside, Cynthia Rios Thomas and Mandi Murphy Pipes.

Unofficial vote totals reflected Pipes, Wooten, Boyce and Grimm the victors, with Pipes receiving 3,608 votes (19.33%), Wooten receiving 2,595 votes (13.90%), Boyce receiving 2,483 votes (13.30%) and Grimm receiving 2,376 votes (12.73%).

Drake received 2,372 votes (12.71%), Thomas received 2,234 votes (11.97%), Moehlmann received 2,036 votes (10.91%) and John Whiteside received 964 votes (5.16%).

There were 87 provisional ballots cast that will be reviewed when the Polk County Ballot Board meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. A ballot is considered provisional when there is some question about a voter’s eligibility.

Considering there was only four votes difference between Grimm and Drake, the election results could potentially change, depending on the ballot board’s decisions regarding those 87 provisional ballots.

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