By Andy Sevilla
An at-large Kyle council seat up for grabs has turned up 270 voters during the two-week early voting period in a political race that will elect a new city legislator.
Kyle has 15,796 registered voters, according to the latest Hays County Elections Office data retrieved Tuesday afternoon. The ballots cast in person account for less than two percent of the eligible electorate.
“The early vote is remarkably, incredibly low,” said Bill Sinor, one of three candidates in the District 3 race. “I really don’t know why the turnout is so low.”
Laurie Luttrell, a second candidate for office, said she wants voters to participate in true democracy, and not just have this election be decided by the friends of the candidates.
“The council makes important decisions that affect the lives of every Kyle citizen,” she said. “I want to be a part of that meaningful decision-making process, but I want Kyle citizens to be a part of that process with me. It begins with being in-tune with what’s going on in the city and voting for a responsible person to help lead us into the future.”
Sinor, Luttrell and a third candidate in the race, Shane Arabie, are fighting for the chance to fill an unexpired term for the District 3 seat.
Arabie said the low voter turnout may be influenced by the election timing.
“Right now, we’re in between election cycles, people are on summer vacations and getting ready for back-to-school,” he said. “Even though the numbers we’re getting are low, historically Kyle has had about 600 voters turn out for elections. With Election Day still ahead, I’m excited at the possibility of having many more voters come out.”
Former District 3 council member Chad Benninghoff, who was elected to his seat last summer, resigned his post in May due to relocation to New Mexico. In his resignation letter, Benninghoff cited his son’s health as the reason.
Sinor, who is now taking a second shot at the District 3 seat after losing last summer to Benninghoff, said the apparent voter apathy could be due to continuous elections this year.
Kyle voters had the opportunity to cast ballots during the Republican and Democrat primary elections March 4, then again during the primary runoff May 27. All the while, in a separate election, Kyle voters also were asked to vote in the municipal and Hays CISD school board election May 10, and then again in a mayoral runoff election May 31.
Now, voters in Kyle are being asked to come out again Aug. 9 to decide the District 3 seat.
For his part, Sinor said his campaign has been walking neighborhoods, making calls and encouraging voters to head to the polls.
“I care about the town, I care about the city, I care about the jobs, I care about the business owners and I care about the residents,” he said. “I believe that it’s time that we get a city council member that is 100 percent for responsible growth” to help alleviate the city’s property tax burden.
Kyle property tax rate — 54.83 cents per $100 property valuation — is presently the highest of any other municipality in Hays County.
Luttrell said she’s the right person for the job.
“Mr. Sinor and Mr. Arabie are great men, but I have the successful business experience to help get Kyle fiscally responsible, investing in its infrastructure and developing a clear vision citizens can get behind,” she said.
As for why voters should cast their ballots for Arabie, he said he understands what the community wants and needs and can get work done.
“[They should vote for me because of] my history with the city [and] my understanding of where we’ve come from and where we’re going,” he said in a phone call Tuesday evening.
Although only 1.7 percent of eligible Kyle voters have cast a ballot, Hays County Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan said her office has mailed out 120 ballots. She said voters have until Election Day — Aug. 9 — to return those ballots.
Election Day is Aug. 9
Polls are open from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Where to vote:
– Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center Street
– Wallace Middle School, 1500 West Center St.
– Chapa Middle School, 3311 Dacy Ln.
