Lack elected for Place 5 seat
By DAVID MORRIS
Cove Leader-Press
Kirby Lack edged out Azeita Taylor in their runoff election for the Place 5 seat on the Copperas Cove City Council Tuesday evening, claiming 289 votes to Taylor’s 237. The seat was vacated by Kenn Smith in March after resigning his post in a letter to Mayor John Hull, beginning the six-month process to find a replacement council member.
Lack received 201 votes during the early voting period, garnering nearly 60 more votes than Taylor who received 143 during the period. Taylor had a late surge on Election Day, collecting 94 votes to Lack’s 88.
“I was doing everything I could think of to motivate people to get out to vote today (Tuesday),” said Lack. “I was on Facebook, texting, calling and it worked. Obviously she (Taylor) was doing the same, getting a lot of supporters to turn out also.”
The three-way race in July was narrowed to Lack and Taylor after the pair finished first and second respectively in the race that included George Duncan. No candidate garnered the majority vote so a runoff was called. Lack collected 266, 41 percent of the vote, while Taylor collected 230, 35 percent, and Duncan 154, 24 percent.
“I sure am glad to have this in my rear view mirror now,” said Lack. “This has been a grueling five months and that is cruel and unusual punishment for anybody, to include the voters.”
Lack’s appointment will come on the heels of budget season, as the six seats along with the City Manager and Budget Director finalized the tax rate and 2014-15 fiscal year budget that was approved at the regular council meeting held Tuesday.
“I feel rejuvenated now that it is over and can’t wait to get sworn in here in a few weeks to get started,” he said. “I would like to see some changes in the voting process here in Copperas Cove. We move it from place to place around town and people are getting lost or disinterested in the voting process.”
Lack looks forward to handling the sidewalk issue that faces the city, and working with the councilmembers that are in place along with the new additions that come in November, as George Duncan will fill the Place 6 seat that is currently held by Jim Schmitz and Matthew Russell who is unopposed for the Place 7 seat that is held by Frank Seffrood. Seffrood is term limited, while Schmitz has chosen not to run again for his seat.
“I have had coffee with both Duncan and Russell and both are intelligent and excited men who share a common vision of making the city better,” said Lack. “(Matthew) Russell is an engineer and that can’t be anything but positive for our council as we face issues with the 1,700 houses out off Lutheran Church Road.”
Lack’s relationship with the current members was evident Tuesday evening as several stopped by the old council chambers to check on the final numbers and congratulate him on his victory.
“We really need to stir the pot for the November election,” said Lack. “We have some important issues on that ballot along with some important state level races that we need more than 526 of our 17,000 voters to vote on.”