City agrees to combine election with county
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

The city of El Campo agreed to join a partnership recently with virtually all other local taxing entities to unite in conducting May elections.

At the same time, each entity will save dollars by not having to operate independently.

For May races, Wharton County Elections Administrator Judy Owens will be overseeing balloting during both the early voting period and on election day. All balloting, with the exception of mail-in votes, will be done via the iVotronic machines, an electronic casting system.

"Basically they will take it over this year," City Manager John Steelman said.

The change won't be noticed by the average city of El Campo voter - ballots will still be cast at the fire/EMS station.

The total cost of the election

Is your money - with the agreement to join the county wide coalition - is $2,828.40 for the city.

Individually, the cost for equipment rental and supplies was estimated at $2,139.50 with an additional $2,863.50 for personnel.