Park Cities voters headed to the polls May 2 to decide whether the municipalities should remain part of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Highland Park voters also chose new town council members.
Ultimately, 70% of voters in Highland Park (1,076 total votes), voted to withdraw from the transit agency while 30% (468) voted to remain part of it. In University Park, about 54% of voters (1,461 total votes) voted to continue DART service there, with 46% (1,262 total voters) voted against it.
Voters in Preston Hollow, meanwhile, considered a massive $6.2 billion Dallas ISD bond, which was approved by voters, as well as other local issues.
A total of 87,776 Dallas County residents cast ballots for the May 2 elections — making for an 8.68% voter turnout.
Early vote totals show 1,675 voters cast their ballots during the early voting period from April 20-28 at Marsh Lane Baptist Church, 939 at Northway Christian Church, 389 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1,108 at Royal Lane Baptist Church, and 2,355 at University Park United Methodist Church, according to the Dallas County Elections Department.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. on May 2. We’re tracking the results after polls close at 7 p.m.
Here’s a breakdown of election results:
DART vote in Highland Park and University Park
The Highland Park Town Council and University Park City Council voted to call special elections on DART membership earlier this year. Some council members argued that DART’s cost dwarfs the services provided by the transit agency.
Advocates for remaining in DART have expressed concerns that leaving DART would cut access to transportation, particularly for low-income people and people with disabilities who are unable to drive themselves, and could leave the city and town without a voice regarding transit in the larger region.
DART buses would discontinue stopping in the Park Cities in the event of a vote to withdraw. GoLink and paratransit services would also be impacted in the Park Cities, although both Highland Park and University Park approved agreements with another provider for paratransit services ahead of the May 2 election for in the event of a vote to withdraw. The SMU shuttle service DART helps to provide would also be impacted.
Unofficial results from the May 2 election showed a split vote on DART in the Park Cities, with Highland Park opting to withdraw and University Park opting to remain part of DART.
Highland Park will canvass election results at a special council meeting on May 13. Services in Highland Park will stop on May 14.
“To the voters of Addison and University Park, thank you. Thank you for your confidence, your trust, and your continued belief in what regional transit can deliver. We will honor that trust, not just with words, but with continued action and results,” DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said at a press conference May 4. “To the residents and leaders of Highland Park, while your city has chosen to draw a different path, we will work together in good faith to ensure a smooth transition occurs over the next 10 days.”
Highland Park Town Council
In Highland Park, where the mayor and five town council members are elected at-large to two-year terms, incumbent Mayor Will Beecherl filed unopposed to run for re-election and six candidates are vying for five seats on the town council.
In Highland Park, incumbents Don Snell, Leland White, and Alan Friedman were re-elected to the town council. Newcomers Margaret S.C. Keliher won a seat on the council with 18.12% of the vote and Mike Tibbals edged out Mark Marynick with 14.28% of the vote (699 votes) to Marynick’s 14.10% (690).
No University Park city council seats were contested, so the city did not have a general municipal election. But there will still be several new faces among city leaders this spring.
Dallas ISD bond election
Voters also approved Dallas ISD’s $6.2 billion bond proposal, unofficial vote totals show.
The $6.2 billion bond will fund 26 brand-new replacement schools built for certain campuses, renovate and modernize all campuses, remove the district’s 700 remaining school portables, and upgrade safety and security at all campuses, among other improvements.
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