Ballot box
Several elections are set for April 7 ballots in Garvin County, including special elections in Maysville and Paoli, as well as board of education elections for two technology center districts that include portions of Garvin County.
In Maysville, voters will have two propositions on the April 7 ballot that, if approved, will amend existing ordinances related to how revenue from a 1% sales tax can be spent and whether the town’s clerk-treasurer position should be elected or appointed.
Maysville’s Town Board of Trustees is asking voters to approve amending town ordinance 2-87 regarding how portions of a 1% sales tax already being collected can be spent. The current ordinance, passed by Maysville voters in February 1988, designates three-eighths of the 1% tax for the support of the public library and the remaining five-eighths is to be used for street resurfacing and repair. Trustees are asking voters to amend how the portion designated for street repairs can be spent, allowing it to be used for general fund expenditures, specifically to “satisfy the outstanding debts and liabilities of the town of Maysville.”
Maysville Mayor Cindy White said the funds are needed to reconcile employee pension and retirement fund contributions that have not been remitted, as well as to pay state and federal payroll tax obligations that are in arrears. The fact that those financial obligations had been neglected was reportedly first discovered by trustees in 2025.
According to ballot language included in the election resolution filed with the county election board, the proposition would allow for the reassignment of the “to date, accumulated and unspent collection” of the tax revenue.
Town officials have previously said the tax revenue account for street resurfacing and repair currently holds more than $500,000.
Maysville voters will also be voting on whether to change the town’s clerk-treasurer position from an elected office to a position to be appointed by the mayor with approval of the town board of trustees. The qualifications and duties of the clerk-treasurer would be set by ordinance, and the proposition would remove the municipal residency requirement that the position has as an elected office.
Town trustees have said the change would allow them to hire the most qualified candidate for the position, regardless of where that person lives, and to ensure continuity beyond election cycles.
“The clerk-treasurer is in charge of daily operations, taking care of the town’s funds and bookkeeping,” White said. “It’s important that we have someone in that position that is qualified and knows what they’re doing. And right now, we just can’t find anyone that lives in town that meets those qualifications and wants to do it.”
In Paoli, voters will be deciding April 7 whether to approve an ordinance granting a franchise agreement to Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company. The agreement is a renewal of the previous franchise, and gives OG&E the right to produce, transmit and distribute electricity within the town, including constructing and maintaining poles, wires and conduits on city right-of-ways. The 25-year agreement also allows for compensation to the town through a franchise fee paid on the revenue generated from the sale of electricity in Paoli.
Franchise agreement renewals are required by state law to ensure utility companies have ready access to city easement when making distribution system repairs and improvements and are required to be approved by a vote of the people.
Two area technology centers will have board of education elections on Garvin County ballots April 7. Voters in the Mid-America Technology Center district will be deciding between candidates Michael Dillinger and Bruce Bridwell for board position 2 for a five-year term.
Garvin County voters living in the Southern Technology Center district will decide between candidates Georganne Westfall and Catherine Roring for board position 3.
The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail for the April 7 election date is March 23. Application forms are available at the County Election Board office on the first floor of the Garvin County Courthouse, Room 8. Absentee ballot applications are also available at elections.ok.gov.
Absentee ballots must be in the hands of the County Election Board officials by 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 6 to be counted.
Voters can also check their registration status and polling place location on the Oklahoma Voter Portal at elections.ok.gov.
Regular polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 7.