Frisco residents decline $160 million bond proposal, elect new city council and school board officials in election
In the Frisco election, voters seemingly rejected a whopping $160 million bond for a performing arts center. Propositions A and B were aimed at creating a center suitable for both small- and large-scale local, regional performances, visual arts exhibitions, and even Broadway shows – with a 2,800-seater performance hall and a 300-400-seater community hall. Over 60% of voters voted against Prop A, while approximately 65% voted against Prop B.
City council members and Frisco ISD school board trustees were also up for election. Here are the preliminary results:
City of Frisco
Place 2: The Place 2 race seemed to be heading for a runoff. Incumbent Tammy Meinershagen, Burt Thakur, and Sai Krishnarajanagar all failed to secure more than 50% of the vote. Thakur and Meinershagen were the top contenders, with about 43% and 41% of the votes, respectively.
Meinershagen has been a council member since 2022 and serves as the city's deputy Mayor Pro Tem. Her council experience includes chairing the governance committee and vice-chairing the city's legislative committee. She was named a Texas Municipal League Fellow and is a primary member on the Regional Transportation Council with the North Texas Council of Governments.[1] Meinershagen's campaign website emphasizes her efforts to lower Frisco's property tax rate for three consecutive years and support for Frisco's Rail District, which aims to make the city's downtown a walkable community destination.[2]
Affordability, developing Frisco's arts and culture scene, and sustainability are Meinershagen's top priorities for a second term. "Frisco is on a successful trajectory right now, but we can't allow our city to become a flash in the pan or a 'has-been.' We must build a city that stands the test of time," she said.[3]
Thakur, an engineer and Navy veteran, was the champion of Jeopardy! during Alex Trebek's final season as host. He has previously run in the Texas Congressional District 26 GOP primary and lost the nomination to Brandon Gill, who later won the seat. He also ran for Congress in California's 25th Congressional District in a 2022 primary.[4]
Place 4: None of the five candidates reached more than 50% of the vote, indicating that the race will likely proceed to a runoff between Jared Elad and Gopal Ponangi. The incumbent for this seat, Bill Woodard, is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.[1]
Frisco ISD
Place 1: The Place 1 race seemed to be heading for a runoff, as none of the three candidates garnered more than 50% of the vote. The top two candidates were Suresh Manduva and Muniraj Janagarajan.[1]
Place 2: With 49.4% of the vote, Renee Sample was the leading candidate but had not reached the majority needed to avoid a runoff. The next-closest candidate was Melanie Barrios Jones.[1]
Place 3: Stephanie Elad appeared to win her reelection bid against Stuart Shulman.[1] Early voting for the runoff elections will take place from May 27-31 and June 2-3.[3]
[1] - https://friscotexas.gov/Home/Components/News/News/17740/10962[2] - https://friscotexas.gov/Home/Components/News/News/17758/10963[3] - https://www.ki来oya.org/story/frisco-voters-reject-160-million-arts-bond-meinershagen-elad/[4] - https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/05/19/election-results-incumbents-tammy-meinershagen-and-jared-elad-leading-in-frisco-school-board-races/[5] - https://www.friscoejo.com/election/
- In the Frisco election, the bond for a performing arts center was rejected, indicating a possible focus on issues like education, affordability, and transportation in the city's government and politics.
- The city council race for Place 2 is heading for a runoff, with incumbent Tammy Meinershagen and Burt Thakur leading the voting, signifying a keen interest in community development, public safety, and policy-and-legislation.
- In the Frisco Independent School District (FISD), the Place 1 race may also proceed to a runoff. Candidates Suresh Manduva and Muniraj Janagarajan are the top contenders, hinting at concerns about education and the community's future.
- The general news in Frisco and surrounding areas will likely feature coverage of the runoff elections, reflecting the public's keen interest in the city's policy-and-legislation and community development.
- In the FISD, Renee Sample is the leading candidate in the Place 2 race but has not reached a majority yet, suggesting a potential need for further engagement and communication among the community and candidates during the runoff election.
