[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:09]
>>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS MEETING MAY BE CONVENED INTO CLOSED SECTION FOR SEEKING ADVICE OF THE ATTORNEY.
THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT TO RECONVENE THE REGULAR SESSION OR ORDER BUSINESS PRIOR TO ANY TIME PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT.
REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE INSIDE CITY HALL CHAMBERS BACK LEFT AND WITH THAT, OUR FIRST ITEM -- CITY SECRETARY, ANY REQUESTS TO WHO WISHES TO SPEAK THIS
[3A. Consider action to approve a resolution canvassing the results of the General and Special Election held Saturday, May 3, 2025, for the election of Council member Places 2, 4 and 6 and for the office of Mayor.]
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO -- ITEM 3A.CANVASSING THE RESULTS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, SATURDAY, MAY 3RD. THE OFFICE OF MAYOR. MAKING THAT PRESENTATION IS OUR CITY SECRETARY, MISS SORENSEN.
CITY COUNCIL ORDER GENERAL ELECTION TO ELECT COUNCIL MEMBE AND ELECT.
THE ELECTION WAS HELD -- AND RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
DAVID SMITH RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 1,807 VOTES, WHICH IS 40.13% OF THE VOTE. PLACE FOUR, BETSY WHITE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 1,960 VOTES. MIKE BRITTON RECEIVED -- WHICH IS 56. 22% OF THE VOTE. SIX, PAMELA BELL RECEIVED 1,321 VOTES. JOHN P. BOWERS RECEIVED 43.
48% OF THE VOTE. AND ALEXANDER ROBLES RECEIVED -- OF THE VOTES.
24R6R THEREFORE, GIBBS IS DUALLY ELECTED IN PLACE TWO. BRITON, PLACE -- FOR SPECIAL ELECTION, VOTES ARE AS FOLLOWS.
JEFF WIDGET WON 56. 82% OF THE VOTE.
AND THIS IS THE RESULTS OF THE >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
AND A MOTION WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE THE SECRETARY'S ANNOUNCED TALLY AS WELL. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION BY SHOW OF HAND.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TALLY PROVIDED BY THE CITY SECRETARY.
[00:05:04]
>> 23RD, 2025 GENERAL FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS REPLACES --
>> IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TALLY.
>> WITH THE TALLIES PROVIDED BY THE CITY SECRETARY.
>> BOWERS? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. LET'S CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE.
LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORKING. SHINDER IS ABSENT.
IT'S OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE
[3B. Consider action to approve an ordinance calling for the Run-off Election for Councilmember Place 6 and setting early voting dates and polling locations.]
YOUR HAND.5-0. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND AGENDA ITEM THIS EVENING.
ITEM 3B. CALLING FOR THE ORDNANCE FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION AND SETTING EARLY VOTING DATES.
MAKING THE PRESENTATION IS MISS SORENSEN.
>> SINCE NO CANDIDATE RECEIVED MORE THAN 50% OF THE VOTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2. 021, AN ELECTION WILL BE HELD TO ELECT A COUNCILMAN. 230A PROVIDES THE CANDIDATES IN A RUNOFF ELECTION OR CANDIDATES WHO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST AND SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
THE CANDIDATES' NAMES LISTING ON THE JUNE 7TH, 2025 BALLOT WILL READ AS FOLLOWS.
FIRST ONE, PAMELA BELL AND SECOND JOHN P. BOWERS III EARLY VOTING BY PERSONAL APPEARANCE WILL BEGIN ON MAY 27 TH, RUN THROUGH JUNE 3RD. HELD AT THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY CENTER. DALLAS COUNTY WILL HOLD OUR RUNOFF ELECTION. ON ELECTION DAY, VOTERS CAN VOTE AT THE ROWLETT COMMUNITY CENTER, STEVENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BACK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LIBERTY GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ROWLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HARTFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SCHRAEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THE REASON VOTING IS HELD IN DALLAS COUNTY IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY OF ROCK WALL DID NOT HAVE A --
>> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY REQUESTED WE HAVE DALLAS COUNTY HANDLE OUR RUNOFF ELECTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL COMMUNICATE THAT OUT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
COUNCIL, WITH THAT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM OUR CITY SECRETARY TO CALL THIS ELECTION AND SO TO APPROVE THE ORDNANCE FOR THE ELECTION, I WILL BEGIN TO ENTERTAIN A MOEKS.
ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BOWERS.
IF YOU WILL HIT YOUR RTS, STATE YOUR MOTION, PLEASE.
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE ORDNANCE CALLING FOR THE RUNOFF ELECTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE SIX AND SETTING EARLY VOTING DATES IN POLLING LOCATIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE MOTION? LET'S CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE. THAT ITEM CARRIES BY A VOTE OF
[4A. Conduct oath of office for newly elected Councilmember Place 2, Place 4, and Mayor.]
5-0. THANK YOU, ALL. WITH THAT, WE HAVE ALL THE BUSINESS OFF THE WAY. ITEM FOUR PRESENTATIONS.4A, CONDUCTING OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO, PLACE FOUR, AND THE MAYOR. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH KIND OF OUR PAST TRADITION, I'M GOING TO GO FIRST SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DEBBIE WHO'S GOING TO KIND OF GUIDE US FROM HERE, I BELIEVE.
AND I WOULD INVITE MY FAMILY TO COME UP AS WELL. ALSO, WE HAVE JUDGE KIGGORE.
[00:10:04]
>> FOR MAYOR, WE HAVE JEFF WIDGET AND HE WILL TAKE HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
>> I SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM -- THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF MAYOR.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
ABILITY -- >> PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE LAWS AND INSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, SO HELP ME GOD. THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO DELIVER REMARKS BEFORE I MOVE ON AND I WOULD INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO DELIVER REMARKS SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO.
FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE THAT FAITH HAS IN MY LIFE AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT FAITH THAT I FEEL CALLED TO LEAD AND TO SERVE AND I'M GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SECOND ONLY TO HIM, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY WIFE FOR HER LOVE AND HER SUPPORT AND FOR ALWAYS BEING A FRIEND. WITHOUT HER, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE TODAY AND WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HER.
TO ALL MY FAMILY THAT'S HERE TODAY AND THOSE WATCHING ONLINE, THE WORDS THANK YOU JUST AREN'T QUITE ENOUGH, BUT THEY'RE ALL I HAVE. TO MY KIDS, CALLIE, PAUL, RACHEL, AND SARAH, YOU'VE BEEN AWESOME. I LOVE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT I'M DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND LOVE SEEING YOU EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW ADVENTURE.
TO MY BROTHER WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH SO MANY CAMPAIGN SIGNS, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO THAT GOES UNRECOGNIZED IN THE BACKGROUND. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT PHONE CALL THREE YEARS AGO.
TO MY MOM, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE TODAY.
I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO THE LIFETIME OF KINDNESS YOU'VE SHOWN EVERYONE AROUND YOU AND IT SHAPED ME INTO WHO I AM TODAY.
FOR MY EXTENDED FAMILY THAT'S HERE, MOST OF WHOM I'VE KNOWN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL, I BET THIS WAS NEVER ON YOUR BINGO CARD, RIGHT? SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. AND SPEAKING OF SUPPORT TO ALL THE SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN ME AND STOOD BY MY SIDE, I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS. YOUR WORDS OF SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE AND I'M HUMBLED BY THE TRUST YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.
MY APPRECIATION GOES TO MY NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MIKE, I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH YOU AND APPRECIATE THE THREE YEARS YOU'VE ALREADY PUT INTO OUR CITY.
MIKE, YOUR BACKGROUND EXTENDS FAR BEYOND WHAT MOST OF US CAN IMAGINE AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW YOUR EXPERIENCE HELPS TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU ALSO TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED IN THE MAY 3RD ELECTION. IT MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST TURNOUTS THE CITY HAS SEEN. THE RUNOFF FOR PLACE SIX IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR VOICE AND WHILE WE AWAIT THAT ELECTION, DEB SHINDER WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS PLACE SIX COUNCIL MEMBER. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE COULDN'T BE WITH US THIS EVENING. LOOKING AHEAD FILLS ME WITH HOPE, DETERMINATION, AND EXCITEMENT. TODAY MARKS THE COURSE THAT WILL GUIDE THE FUTURE OF ROWLETT. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'LL SEE SHORT- TERM PROGRESS LIKE UPGRADES TO OUR KIDS KINGDOM AND NEW STREET LIGHTING ON LAKEVIEW PARKWAY PLUS OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY. I'M DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH NEW AND IMPROVED TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF FROM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO OUR LIBRARIANS AND THEY ARE PROUD TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE THEM.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AND FINALLY, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU, OUR RESIDENTS, WHO MAKE ROWLETT TRULY SPECIAL. I CHALLENGE YOU TO STAY CONNECTED, BE INVOLVED, LOOK FOR WAYS TO VOLUNTEER. SEEK TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU AND I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY GREAT.
FROMS THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND CELEBRATING WITH US. THANK YOU.
[00:15:14]
>> NEXT, WE'LL HAVE MARVIN GIBBS COME DOWN FOR COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE TWO TO BE SWORN IN.
>> SAY AFTER ME. I STATE YOUR NAME.
>> SO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL PLACE TWO.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY --
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY --
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE LAWS OF THE --
>> PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND DEFEND --
>> THE CONSTITUTION. >> THE CONSTITUTION.
>> LAWS OF THE STATE SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHORT AND SWEET ONE. I WAS GOING TO PRETEND I HAD A BIG, LONG THING AND ROLL IT OUT LIKE THEY DID IN THE SANTA CLAUS THING. FIRST MOST, I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE. SHE PUT UP WITH ME DURING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL OF RUNNING AND BEING A BASICALLY A WIDOW DURING THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN.
MY FAMILY. MY SUPPORTERS, MY FRIENDS.
MY NEW FRIENDS AND EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS BEEN TO GREAT AND I'M HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE YOU.
THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT AND CONTINUE MY SERVICE THROUGH MY 36 YEARS I SERVED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE THIS. I DO HOPE WE CAN DO SOME GREAT THINGS AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER THAN WHERE IT'S BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE GOING BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS COMING AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THAT.
AND I HOPE I COULD HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> NEXT, COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE BRITTON TO BE SWORN IN AS COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE FOUR.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GIBBS. CAN I ASK YOU TO TAKE YOUR SEAT AT THE DIOCE, PLEASE?
EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF OFFICE. >> CITY COUNCIL PLACE FOUR CITY OF ROWLETT, STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITY. >> PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE SO HELP ME GOD.
>> THE CONSTITUTION OF THE LAWS OF THIS NATION, SORRY.
>> OF THE UNITED STATES AND THIS STATE, SO HELP
>> I'M GOING TO BLAME MARVIN BECAUSE HE MESSED UP.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PREPARED COMMENTS.
I'LL MAKE THIS BRIEF. I DO APPRECIATE THE WORDS
[00:20:03]
FROM OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR BECAUSE FAITH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AS WELL. FAITH PELS ME TO SERVE.NOT JUST IN MY CHURCH, BUT MY COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT. F1 I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE.
THESE LAST THREE YEARS HAS NOT BEEN EASY.
BUT SHE'S BEEN THERE ALL THE WAY.
SUPPORTING ME. AND I COULD NEVER, EVER EVEN THINK ABOUT WANTING TO DO ANOTHER THREE YEARS WITHOUT HER FULL SUPPORT.
I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.
I SEE A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE. I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND THE VOTES I'VE RECEIVED.
I WANT TO HONOR THAT BY DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN BY SERVING ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR ME OR NOT. SO YOU HAVE MY WORD.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT I AM GOING TO GIVE MY FULLEST TO MAKING SURE THAT ROWLETT IS THE BEST IT COULD POSSIBLY BE. AGAIN, THANK YOU.
>> MADAME SECRETARY, ARE WE GOOD TO GO?
>> WITH THAT, WE ARE FINISHED WITH ALL OF OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS THIS EVENING. IT IS 5:53 P.M.
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THA
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.