Celina Record > News
Korbuly wins runoff election for Prosper town council seat
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@starlocalnews.com
The margin of victory was slim for newly elected Prosper town council member Michael Korbuly during a recent runoff election. Korbuly received three more votes than candidate Kelly Cooper – 373 to 370 – to win the election.
Korbuly will now complete the unexpired council term of Dave Benefield (Place 1), who resigned in June during his first term on council to become senior pastor at River of Life Church in Mason.
Cooper received a plurality of votes during the initial election in September but failed to secure the required majority. That forced a runoff between her and Korbuly, the candidate who received the second most votes. Cooper received 267 votes (49 percent) to lead the initial four-candidate ballot, and was followed by Korbuly, who received 204 votes.
David Vestal and Phyllis Hoffschwelle, the remaining candidates, each received 36 votes.
During a special town council meeting held Tuesday to approve the runoff results and swear in Korbuly, town attorney Rebecca Brewer explained that the Texas Constitution requires an elected official serving a term in excess of two years to be elected by a majority of votes, which is defined as 50.01 percent. Prosper council members serve three-year terms.
The Prosper town charter also requires a candidate to receive a majority of votes to win an election. After failing to secure either a plurality or majority of votes during the initial election, Korbuly made up significant ground in the month leading up to the runoff to finish with 50.2 percent.
“It was a tough campaign and very stressful,” Korbuly said. “I’m relieved and ready to move the town forward. We have a lot of great things happening, so now it’s just about moving on and going from here.”
Prosper residents will head back to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6 to cast their votes in the general election. In addition to voting in a collection of county, state and national races, they’ll be weighing in on an issue closer to home – whether to allow the sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only within town limits.
Currently, only beer and wine sales are allowed in Prosper. Approval of that ballot measure would be an initial step toward the opening of liquor stores.
Early voting for the general election continues through Friday.
Korbuly will now complete the unexpired council term of Dave Benefield (Place 1), who resigned in June during his first term on council to become senior pastor at River of Life Church in Mason.
Cooper received a plurality of votes during the initial election in September but failed to secure the required majority. That forced a runoff between her and Korbuly, the candidate who received the second most votes. Cooper received 267 votes (49 percent) to lead the initial four-candidate ballot, and was followed by Korbuly, who received 204 votes.
David Vestal and Phyllis Hoffschwelle, the remaining candidates, each received 36 votes.
During a special town council meeting held Tuesday to approve the runoff results and swear in Korbuly, town attorney Rebecca Brewer explained that the Texas Constitution requires an elected official serving a term in excess of two years to be elected by a majority of votes, which is defined as 50.01 percent. Prosper council members serve three-year terms.
The Prosper town charter also requires a candidate to receive a majority of votes to win an election. After failing to secure either a plurality or majority of votes during the initial election, Korbuly made up significant ground in the month leading up to the runoff to finish with 50.2 percent.
“It was a tough campaign and very stressful,” Korbuly said. “I’m relieved and ready to move the town forward. We have a lot of great things happening, so now it’s just about moving on and going from here.”
Prosper residents will head back to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6 to cast their votes in the general election. In addition to voting in a collection of county, state and national races, they’ll be weighing in on an issue closer to home – whether to allow the sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only within town limits.
Currently, only beer and wine sales are allowed in Prosper. Approval of that ballot measure would be an initial step toward the opening of liquor stores.
Early voting for the general election continues through Friday.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News