Brooks becomes new Atlanta Mayor

On May 7, the City of Atlanta, Texas voted on a new mayor, a City Council At-Large and the voters of Cass County voted for two propositions in the State Constitutional Election. In the mayor’s race, Marshall James Brooks defeated Kendell Wolfe, 260 to 145.

Brooks who is an Atlanta grad is Married to Cheryl, who is employed locally, and a father to “two beautiful daughters”. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for most his adult life. In his initial interview with the Journal-Sun brooks noted that “the mayor very quickly becomes the face and the voice for the city of Atlanta here in our home community but also in our surrounding communities. I view being Mayor in a JFK kind of way; What can I do for my city? Not, what can my city do for me? Or what can I get out of being Mayor? I am running for this position because I believe this position should be held by someone with a history of good citizenship and a reputation for professionalism. Our current Mayor, Travis Ransom, has done a great job of creating an environment where people can collaborate and share ideas to better our community. I want to carry this on and work toward the same goals.”

He also said “he would like to see more cohesiveness in our community. I think it is important for our boards to have good communication between them so that everyone can be involved and informed. Every leader in our community has similar goals and wants similar things for our community. We must find a way to fully utilize these organizations by working together. It is vital that our city work closely with our local school, I would like to see more involvement between the two entities. Atlanta ISD employs more individuals than any other business in this community. This just shows how important it is to work with them.”

“So, naturally I was excited to see the results of the election Saturday evening. I am truly honored to see such support and cannot thank everyone enough. I wish my opponent the best of luck in whatever the future holds for him. I look forward to working with you all as we collectively work together for the betterment of Atlanta,” Brooks said after the election.

Kendell Wolfe, disappointed at the results said, “Losing is never fun, but nonetheless Congratulations! I know Mr. Brooks to be an intelligent, hardworking individual and I trust that he will lead our city in such a way. I’m looking forward to working with him to continue the progress of Atlanta. Whatever capacity that might be.”

In the City of Atlanta City Council, At-Large voting Chad Clements defeated Corvette Phillips 313 to 72.

In the first proposition, “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public-school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead.”

Locally, the election results for were: Absentee 286, 83.38%; Early Voting 348, 88.10%; and election day 480, 88.89% totaling, 1,114 at 87.17%. Against were: Absentee 57, 16.62%; Early Voting 47, 11 .90%; and election day 60, 11 .11% totaling, 164 at 12.83%.

Statewide the proposition passed setting a lower property tax rate for elderly and disabled homeowners with nearly 87% support.

In the second proposition “The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $25,000 to $40,000.”

Locally, the election results for were: Absentee 274, 79.88%; Early Voting 357, 89.47%; and election day 468, 85.87% totaling, 1,099 at 85.39%. Against were: Absentee 69, 20.12%; Early Voting 42, 10.53%; and election day 77, 14.13% totaling, 188 at 14.61%.

Statewide proposition 2 passed which will “allow homeowners to further reduce their home’s market value which would decrease their property taxes. It passed with 85% support.