Updated at 9:50 a.m.

Sunset Valley Mayor Rose Cardona has been re-elected to her position, and voters in the city have approved a new sales tax increase.

Rose Cardona Rose Cardona is the mayor of Sunset Valley.[/caption]

Cardona received 73.02 percent of the vote, or 249 votes. Her challenger Ariel Cloud received 26.98 percent of the vote, or 92 votes.

A total of 55.34 percent, or 202 votes, were cast in favor of the tax increase, while 44.66 percent, or 163, voted against it, according to results released by Travis County.

Four candidates filed for the two open council member positions with two-year terms. Mickie Powers, a current council member and retired educator, received 34.70 percent of the vote, or 178 votes. Real estate appraiser Walter Jenkins, also a current council member, received 32.75 percent of the early vote, or 168 votes. The top two vote-getters won the seats. Also running were small-business owner James Tessmann, a one-year resident who received 20.08 percent of the early vote, or 103 votes, and retiree Myrna Zapata received 12.48 percent of the early vote, or 64 votes.

Attorney Ketan Kharod received 48.42 percent of the vote, or 153 votes, in the race for the one-year term. Council Member Jeff Burdett resigned in July, and the new council member will complete the remainder of Burdett’s term, which will be one year. Resident Donny Hurwitz ended the night with 34.49 percent of the vote, or 109 votes; and teacher Charles Goyette, a 13-year resident, received 17.09 percent of the vote, or 54 votes.

Updated at 11:10 p.m.

As of the latest update at around 10 p.m., most Sunset Valley votes were in favor of a proposition to raise the city's sales tax, and voters were mostly supporting incumbent Mayor Rose Cardona.

More than 57 percent, or 147 votes, were cast in favor of the tax increase, while 42.80 percent, or 110, voted against it, according to results released by Travis County.

Cardona received 75.11 percent of the vote, or 178 votes. Her challenger Ariel Cloud received 24.89 percent of the vote, or 59 votes.

Four candidates have filed for the two open council member positions with two-year terms. Mickie Powers, a current council member and retired educator, received 33.99 percent of the vote, or 121 votes. Real estate appraiser Walter Jenkins, also a current council member, received 31.74 percent of the vote, or 113 votes. The top two vote-getters will win the seats. Small-business owner James Tessmann, a one-year resident, received 20.51 percent of the early vote, or 79 votes, and retiree Myrna Zapata received 13.39 percent of the early vote, or 49 votes.

Sunset Valley is also holding a special election on the same date for the seat held by Council Member Jeff Burdett, who resigned in July. The new council member will complete the remainder of Burdett’s term, which will be one year. Attorney Ketan Kharod is in the lead with 45.95 percent of the vote, or 102 votes; 39-year resident Donny Hurwitz has 36.49 percent of the vote, or 81 votes; and teacher Charles Goyette, a 13-year resident, received 17.57 percent of the vote, or 39 votes.

Updated 7:40 p.m.

Current Sunset Valley Mayor Rose Cardona has a strong lead for the mayoral seat, according to unofficial early voting results released by Travis County.

Cardona garnered about 75 percent of the early vote, or 175 votes. Her challenger Ariel Cloud received 24.89 percent of the vote, or 58 votes.

Voters in Sunset Valley are also considering a sales tax increase. According to unofficial early voting results, 57.14 percent, or 144 voters, are in favor of the proposition to increase the sales tax and 42.86 percent, or 108 voters, are against it.

Four candidates have filed for the two open council member positions with two-year terms. Mickie Powers, a current council member and retired educator, received 33.62 percent of the vote, or 118 votes. Real estate appraiser Walter Jenkins, also a current council member, received 33.19 percent of the early vote, or 113 votes. The top two vote-getters will win the seats. Retiree Myrna Zapata received 13.39 percent of the early vote, or 73 votes, and small-business owner James Tessmann, a one-year resident, received 20.80 percent of the early vote, or 47 votes.

Sunset Valley is also holding a special election on the same date for the seat held by Council Member Jeff Burdett, who resigned in July. The new council member will complete the remainder of Burdett’s term, which will be one year. Attorney Ketan Kharod is in the lead with 45.66 percent of the vote, or 100 votes; 39-year resident Donny Hurwitz has 36.53 percent of the vote, or 80 votes; and teacher Charles Goyette, a 13-year resident, received 17.81 percent of the vote, or 39 votes.

Updated 4:10 p.m.

There are only three hours left until polls close at 7 p.m. in Travis County. After the polls close the county typically releases early voting results.

Here’s information on where to vote and a map showing estimated wait times at polling locations throughout the county, including Sunset Valley City Hall.



Tax increase, mayoral and council seats on ballot
Posted at 2:50 p.m.

In the city of Sunset Valley, voters will elect a mayor and three council members as well as vote on whether to implement a new sales tax increase.

Sunset Valley City Council Sunset Valley City Council meets at its City Hall building on Jones Road.[/caption]

Two candidates have filed for the mayor’s seat, including incumbent Rose Cardona, an attorney who has lived in Sunset Valley for eight years. Her challenger on the ballot is Ariel Cloud, a 9-year resident and retired public school district administrator.

Four candidates have filed for the two open council member positions with two-year terms. The top two vote-getters will take those seats, City Administrator Clay Collins said. Mickie Powers, a current council member and retired educator, has lived in Sunset Valley for 38 years. Real estate appraiser Walter Jenkins, also a current council member, is a 14-year resident of Sunset Valley. Retiree Myrna Zapata has lived in Sunset Valley four years, and small-business owner James Tessmann, a one-year resident, is also running for a two-year term.

Sunset Valley will also hold a special election on the same date for the seat held by Council Member Jeff Burdett, who resigned in July. The new council member will complete the remainder of Burdett’s term, which will be one year. Attorney Ketan Kharod, a seven-year resident; 39-year resident Donny Hurwitz, a college professor and financial adviser; and teacher Charles Goyette, a 13-year resident, are all running in that race.

For election and voting information visit www.sunsetvalley.org.