Coppell election sees tight races, runoff

Coppell Election Results

There will be new faces on the Coppell City Council as early election results show Karen Hunt and Gary Roden taking the lead over opponents and a runoff election scheduled for two Place 3 hopefuls.

Karen Hunt and Marsha Tunnell ran for the mayoral spot, and though unofficial results showed a close race throughout the evening, Karen Hunt took the lead finishing with 55 percent, while Tunnell trailed close behind with 45 percent of the votes. Only 277 of 2,897 votes stood between the two candidates.

Doug Bernstein and Gary Roden, Place 4 hopefuls, also saw a tight race but Roden took the lead with 67 percent of the votes to Bernstein's 32.9 percent of the votes.

"I think it was a good race," Bernstein said. "We both tried to put good ideas out there for consideration and a lot of my supporters felt I was bring up issues that were not being addressed in general in elections and not being discussed in city meetings. It felt good that I was able to represent those views this election."

Bernstein said though it is far too soon to discuss plans to run again, he is looking forward to getting some rest after campaigning for the election.

The Special Election for Place 3 unofficial results show a runoff election will be held between Wes Mays and Greg Garcia, who failed to obtain more than 50 percent of the votes. Mays took the lead with 40 percent of the votes, while Garcia held 37 percent.

"My hats off to Wes," Garcia said, "but I am excited to be in the position I am in.

It's a challenge to get 50 percent of the votes any time you get into a campaign with four candidates. The fact that I have what I have -- and to be in the position I am in -- I am excited about it."

Garcia said he is looking forward to the upcoming runoff election now that the race has slimed to just two candidates.

"He did an outstanding job and we will see what happens come June 23," he said. "There are no longer any distractions."

One distraction Garcia said held his attention was his son's graduation.

"He's graduating and my main focus will be my campaign," he said. "We had a great turnout and the fact that everyone came out means a lot. I hope [voters] keep the momentum going because we have created a lot of momentum with this vote."

Other candidates for Place 3 were Mahesh Guduru who obtained 15.8 percent of the votes and Margaret Luyck who received 6.6 percent of the votes.

"I joined late in the game and wasn't expecting to win, but I am budding my political roots," Luyck said. "I will probably run again."

Luyck said she had originally planned to run against an uncontested candidate, but was unable to do so and was lumped in with three other candidates.

"I got wind that the place was open and was actually going to run for an uncontested seat, but when I got there it was closed," she said. "I had no other option but to run for Place 3. Next time, I will be more aware of uncontested seats. This is just a trial run."

Luyck encouraged residents to get out and vote, calling upon high school students who are of legal voting age to participate.

"I think democracies need everyone to at least have a choice," she said. "I think we have 40,000 residents and I would really like to have high school seniors to vote. These votes were fought for by our troops and it's very sad to see such a low turnout."

The runoff election for Place 3 will be held June 23. Gary Roden, Wes Mays and Mahesh Guduru could not be reached for comment on election night. See paper for updated story.

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