According to unofficial results, Rod Erskine has defeated Joyce Berube in the race for the Jersey Village mayoral position. Erskine earned 499 votes compared to Berube's 301.
"In 2009, I was privileged to be elected by our residents to City Council, and have served the past four years on Position 2," Erskine said. "Jersey Village is a wonderful, family oriented community with great public services for its residents, and I want to make sure we stay that way."
A Jersey Village resident since 1987, Erskine has been an active member of the community as a former coach for youth sports and a volunteer on projects such as the construction of the playground at Carol Fox Park and the city's annual Easter egg hunt. He has more than 30 years of management and leadership experience ranging from technical research to budget projects. Erskine currently works as a technical advisor for a Fortune 500 energy company and is accustomed to working on group projects.
Erskine said that his first priorities as mayor will be to continue discussions with the Texas Department of Transportation concerning noise mitigation efforts regarding the Hwy. 290 expansion project. Other priorities include attracting new businesses to the area as well as analyzing the challenges current businesses face within the city.
Two seats were up for election May 11. Current council member Harry Beckwith was elected for position 3, and newcomer Sandra Joachim was elected to position 2. Both candidates ran unopposed.
All positions are for two-year terms. The winners will be sworn in at the May 20 City Council meeting.
Jersey Village residents also voted to renew the Crime Control Prevention District—a program critical to the funding of the Jersey Village police department—for another 10 years. The CCPD is a half-percent sales tax on goods and services collected by the city to be used on expenditures related to law enforcement. Jersey Village residents voted 691 in favor or the measure, with 84 opposed.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.