City annexed areas joining voting district for May races
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Five months from now, the newly annexed residents of the Sandy Corners area will be casting ballots in the May at-large city elections.

But first, the city will have to present its voting plan to the Department of Justice and prove the placement of Sandy Corners residents into El Campo City Council districts won't dilute minority voting.

That shouldn't be a problem, City Attorney Ronny Collins said Monday.

Although the city's deadline for presenting its plan to the DOJ isn't until late March, the city should be ready to file it in mid-January.

The north Hwy. 71 area will likely be added to what's popularly known as the Town & Country District - Seat 4 currently held by Councilman Ed Erwin.

"I'm pretty sure that's where it will be piled in," Collins said. "Geographically it should be possible without diluting minority voting."

Other annexed areas have few or no residences, compared to the 60 to 65 homes in Sandy Corners. Only annexation Area 6 has other dwellings - one home and eight mobile homes.

Erwin, a freshman representative, took the post last May when former Councilman Larry Russell opted not to seek an additional term.

Erwin voted in favor of city annexation plans. He, however, won't be facing re-election in May.

The 2008 voting cycle will be for at-large representatives - Mayor Phillip Spenrath, Mayor Pro Tem Kenneth Martin and a currently vacant chair previously occupied by Kyle Smith.

In El Campo, the top three vote-getters of all at-large candidates earn the posts. Historically, the mayor and mayor pro tem are selected from these three posts.

The Dec. 11 City Council action approving annexation finalized the inclusion of Sandy Corners in the municipal limits.

The areas - Sandy Corners, 400 feet east of it on Hwy. 71 north, the Bode property on FM 2765, from the city limits on East Jackson to the east side of Wharton County Electric Cooperative and an L-shaped piece of property west of South Meadow Lane from West Jackson to U.S. 59 - will be on the tax rolls Jan.1.

"We're going full steam ahead," Collins said.

Only a petition could change that. With a properly filed petition within the next 30 days, the issue could be forced to a May vote.