Barbara Bass Sails To Solid Win In Tyler Mayor's Election
(Staff Photo By Mark Roberts)
Mayoral candidate Barbara Bass celebrates with her supporters after winning the mayor position Saturdayin Tyler.
By CINDY MALLETTE
Staff Writer
Barbara Bass beamed and bear-hugged one of her volunteers after looking at the complete, but unofficial, returns in the city’s mayoral election.
Staff Writer
Barbara Bass beamed and bear-hugged one of her volunteers after looking at the complete, but unofficial, returns in the city’s mayoral election.
“You’ve got to feel excited!” she said.
Congratulations resounded throughout the Smith County Courthouse Annex Saturday night as Ms. Bass hugged neck after neck.
Congratulations resounded throughout the Smith County Courthouse Annex Saturday night as Ms. Bass hugged neck after neck.
Voters turned out to the polls almost 2-1 in favor of Ms. Bass during the city elections Saturday. Complete but unofficial results showed she took 4,103 votes, or 60.09 percent.
She’d stayed right at the 60 percent mark throughout the night, from the moment early voting results were posted at 7 p.m. through the final tally, which went up at 8:40 p.m.
She’d stayed right at the 60 percent mark throughout the night, from the moment early voting results were posted at 7 p.m. through the final tally, which went up at 8:40 p.m.
“I feel very, very blessed. I have a wonderful group of volunteers. My friends from all over the community were working and believing in me,” she said. “We’re just elated!”
Her main challenger, Ms. Corbett, took 2,567 votes, or 38.11 percent.
“I’ve already called and congratulated Barbara,” Ms. Corbett said shortly after the final results were posted.
Her main challenger, Ms. Corbett, took 2,567 votes, or 38.11 percent.
“I’ve already called and congratulated Barbara,” Ms. Corbett said shortly after the final results were posted.
Ms. Corbett said she felt the campaign, which hinged on the candidate’s different views on economic development in Tyler, was a positive one.
“We ran a clean and honorable campaign,” she said. “I would like to thank everyone for their generous support.”
“We ran a clean and honorable campaign,” she said. “I would like to thank everyone for their generous support.”
Ms. Bass has proposed using some of the city’s reserve funds to offer monetary incentives to businesses looking to bring high-paying jobs to Tyler.
Ms. Corbett said she would not support handing out cash to companies before anyone could measure that company’s economic impact on the city. Instead, she said Tyler would attract companies by its low tax rates, good quality of life for potential employees, and by tax abatements.
Ms. Corbett said she would not support handing out cash to companies before anyone could measure that company’s economic impact on the city. Instead, she said Tyler would attract companies by its low tax rates, good quality of life for potential employees, and by tax abatements.
In spite of their differences, Ms. Corbett said she thinks the city will be well-directed under Ms. Bass’s leadership.
“I feel absolutely that we’re headed in the right direction,” Ms. Corbett said. “I also plan to stay involved in the city. I have another term coming up on the Half-Cent Sales Tax Board, and I plan to stay on as long as they’ll have me.”
“I feel absolutely that we’re headed in the right direction,” Ms. Corbett said. “I also plan to stay involved in the city. I have another term coming up on the Half-Cent Sales Tax Board, and I plan to stay on as long as they’ll have me.”
A third candidate for mayor, local artist Keith Alan Pyron, garnered 65 votes on Saturday, not quite reaching one percentage point of the total vote. Pyron, whose main platform was repealing the city’s smoking ban, was unavailable for comment Saturday night.
At the Courthouse Annex, Ms. Bass couldn’t decide what her first order of business would be.
“I haven’t thought about that. The first thing, I guess is to get sworn in!” she said.
Ms. Bass, a certified public accountant, ran on a three-part platform: bringing in high-paying jobs, taking care of transportation needs and improving the quality of life of Tyler residents. She said she will work with the city council to see her goals accomplished.
Ms. Bass said she harbors no ill will toward five of the six council members who endorsed Ms. Corbett, a former city council member and currently a real-estate agent, one week before the election took place. Instead, she looks forward to working with them over the next two years.
“It’s just part of politics,” she said. “That was something they did and they felt passionate about. We will work together because we’re all here for the right reason: We love Tyler.”
At the Courthouse Annex, Ms. Bass couldn’t decide what her first order of business would be.
“I haven’t thought about that. The first thing, I guess is to get sworn in!” she said.
Ms. Bass, a certified public accountant, ran on a three-part platform: bringing in high-paying jobs, taking care of transportation needs and improving the quality of life of Tyler residents. She said she will work with the city council to see her goals accomplished.
Ms. Bass said she harbors no ill will toward five of the six council members who endorsed Ms. Corbett, a former city council member and currently a real-estate agent, one week before the election took place. Instead, she looks forward to working with them over the next two years.
“It’s just part of politics,” she said. “That was something they did and they felt passionate about. We will work together because we’re all here for the right reason: We love Tyler.”
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