Bexar County, Texas made electoral history as residents cast their votes for at-large positions on the Bexar Appraisal District board of directors, a shift from the historically administratively appointed board. Naomi Elizabeth Miller secured the Place 1 seat on the appraisal board with a decisive 52.9% amid intense interest from property owners and political groups. Ongoing runoffs loom for the remaining Place 2 and Place 3 positions, according to San Antonio Report.
Erika Hizel, small landlord advocate, and Realtor Stephen Spears are set to face off for Place 2 after no candidate managed to secure a majority. Hizel snagged 34.9% of the vote against Spears' 34.2%, making it a tight race that excludes commercial real estate broker Yen Yan, who fell short with 30.9%. The runoff scheduled for June 15 will determine the eventual victor in what many see as a consequential shift in local governance. The board, once fully determined, will assume new power over the Appraisal Review Board selections.
In the third seat contest, the founder of Boerne Stage Airfield, Robert Bruce will go head to head with retired CIA and Army Reserve officer, G.L. “Larry” Lamborn after they received 37.4% and 24.3% of the votes respectively. Candidates bypassed include Mel Bayne, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and physician, and Bradley Frerich, a landscape architect, according to election night figures reported by the San Antonio Report.
The election, prompted by a Texas Legislature decision for a property tax overhaul, included highly-contested races and even some political casualties. Notably, Balcones Heights Mayor Suzanne de Leon was narrowly ousted by a single vote, falling to former Mayor Johnny Rodriguez. This outcome culminates a low-turnout municipal election smeared by debate over a shopping mall acquisition. Meanwhile, in Terrell Hills, a proposal to freeze property taxes for seniors was narrowly rejected — 62.4% against 37.6% support — as younger residents voiced concerns over shouldering increased tax burdens. Shavano Park opted to continue their crime control and prevention measures funded through sales tax, recording an overwhelming 90.8% approval, as recounted by San Antonio Report.
In the background of these substantial local power shifts, the Bexar Appraisal District is bracing for additional costs as the runoff elections are projected to expend roughly an extra $1 million, stacking onto the $800,000 already shelled out for the May 4 election frenzy. These developments underscore a heightened local engagement and the burgeoning gravity of what was once considered back-office administrative roles, as reported by Express News.
