For two Harker Heights City Council candidates, the wait to find out who won is going to be a little longer.
Sam Halabi and Stacey L. Wilson emerged as the top two vote-getters in Saturdayâs three-way race for the Place 5 seat, but neither finished with more than 50% of the ballots cast.
According to the city charter, a candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be declared the winner.
As a result, Halabi and Wilson will have to keep campaigning until a runoff election in a few weeks.
Assistant City Manager Jerry Bark said via email Monday that the City Council will meet May 11 to canvass the votes. At that time, the council will also set a date for the runoff election, including early-voting dates.
HARKER HEIGHTS â In the crowded race for Harker Heights City Council Place 5, two candidates emerged as clear favorites and will head to a runoff.
Sam Halabi was the top vote-getter with 502 votes, good for 36%. He appears headed for a runoff with Stacey L. Wilson, who got 473 votes, which equates to 34%.
âI attribute the success of my campaign for the support of every single person who voted for me. I really appreciate this community,â Halabi said. âThis first one was stressful and Iâm just ready to chill out for now and announce those plans later.â
Wilson credited the front yard forums held in Heights with helping her gain support from voters.
In the Place 2 race, incumbent Michael Blomquist faces a challenge from Howard âScotâ Arey.
In Place 5, incumbent Jody Nicholas is term-limited, and four residents are seeking to take her place on the council dais.
The candidates are Vitalis Dubininkas, Sam Halabi, Jeffrey Keith Harris and Stacey L. Wilson.
Voting on Saturday will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Harker Heights Parks and Recreation Center, 307 Millerâs Crossing.
Here are some brief biographies of the candidates, in alphabetical order, by council race, followed by a question asking each candidate what they see as their top priority, if elected, as answered in a previously published article in the Harker Heights Herald.
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