More than 3,000 vote during first week

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

Months of campaigning will come to a close next week, with Tuesday’s general election. 
The Cass County Clerk’s Office said they have seen unprecedented voter turnout this year. In the first week alone, more than 3,000 people took advantage of the early voting period.
 The county is operating two early voting locations. They are at the Atlanta Independent School District Administrative Building, 106 W. Main St., in Atlanta and the Cass County Voting Building, 227 E. Rush St. in Linden. The polls will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Voters may cast their ballots in either Atlanta or Linden, regardless of where they live in the county. On Election Day residents must vote in their assigned precincts.
 “All registered voters are encouraged to vote during these two weeks of early voting in order to avoid long lines during the main Election Day. For voter convenience, voters may choose which early voting polling location to cast their vote,” said Cass County Clerk Jamie O’Rand.
In addition to national and statewide races, in which all voters may participate there are races that are specific to certain geographical locations. Depending on where the voter’s address of record is, the ballot may look slightly different than other places in the county. 
In much of the county, voters will decide whether to become part of the Texarkana College taxing district. Approving the annexation brings with it an ad valorem (or property) tax, which is currently at $0.11 per $100 valuation. The measure would allow students from the taxing district to save money, approximately $795 per semester – by paying in-district tuition. TC would also locate a new workforce training site in Atlanta that would offer truck driving, vocational nursing, welding, cosmetology and industrial maintenance/multi-craft certifications.
The annexation has been highly controversial. Many property owners say they are already paying enough in taxes. 
Proponents point to the fact that it will make educational opportunities more affordable and help residents obtain a better quality of life, in addition to making the area more attractive to industry.
In addition to the TC annexation issue, Atlanta voters will also cast ballots “for” or “against” the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption within the city limits. The last local option election in Atlanta was in May of 2015, which failed with 289 voting against alcohol sales and 244 voting for it. 
In Linden, voters will face two opposed races for the Linden-Kildare CISD Board of Trustees. Michael Whatley and Robby Johnson are running for Place 6, while Joshua Lane and Tracy Spaniol are seeking the Position 7 seat. Running for city council are Chuck Evans, Kenny Hamilton, Sue Morris Lazara and Jeannie O’Rear Stevens. The top three vote-getters will be elected to council.
Voters will also decide whether or not to allow L-K CISD to issue $7.9 million in bonds “for the construction, acquisition, renovation and equipment of school buildings in the district and the purchase of technology.” A “For” vote would allow the district to adjust the tax rate to pay for the bonds.