ELECTION 2008

Claude Brown will serve another term as mayor, and the school board lost two incumbents after balloting ended Saturday, May 10.

Predictions of a voter turnout of 800 to 900 were exceeded with 981 voting. That amounted to 30 percent of the 3,221 registered voters casting ballots.

That was a "real good turnout," according to veteran city secretary Esther Arzola.

Early voting drew 563 voters, and on election day, 418 voted.

Two years ago, when Port Aransas voters were faced with a contested mayor's race, the turnout was better, with 1,299 voting. In that election, 799 voted early and 500 voted on election day.

CITY COUNCIL

Brown defeated challenger Charlie Zahn by a margin of 119 votes, 543 to 424. Of the 967 votes cast in that race, Brown netted 56 percent while Zahn netted 44 percent.

Races down the ballot featured candidates who are unopposed in their bids for city council. They were Place 2 incumbent Keith McMullin who earned 720 votes, Glenda Balentine for Place 4 (being vacated by Bubba Jensen because of term limitations), 727 votes and Place 6 incumbent Mike Hall, 758 votes.

SCHOOL BOARD

Place 2 was won by former trustee Chuck Borders with 476 votes. He defeated Michael Garlough, the Place 4 incumbent who was appointed to fill the remaining two years of the term vacated by Bob Smith who resigned. Garlough garnered 454 votes. The margin of vicory was 51 percent to 49 percent of the 930 votes cast in that race.

Place 3 incumbent Lorraine Stern was defeated by Jay Jones. Stern earned 437 votes while Jones won the race with 481 votes. With 918 votes cast in that race, Jones won 52 percent to 48 percent.

Place 2 school board trustee Dr. Ken Dunton, who was unopposed for the remaining two years of Garlough's Place 4 position, chalked up 778 votes.

Dunton opted to seek the remaining two years in Place 4 to complete projects with which he has been involved.