By Amy Bearden
Mineral Wells Area News Publisher
They said they wouldn’t stop until everyone was gone from the current City Council, and now a second councilman for the City of Mineral Wells, this one in Ward 4, has been the subject of another successful recall petition by the group.
City Clerk Sharon McFadden told the City Council at the January 2nd meeting that the groups petition was certified for the petition to recall Councilman Doyle Light, with well over 400 signatures necessary of the 25% of the 1600 Ward 4 registered voters.
According to the City’s legal counsel who spoke at the meeting said the process of recall requires an election. and will coincide with the May 2024 General Election where Light’s name will be placed on the ballot twice. Once for the recall election and once for Ward 4 election to continue to serve the Council. Essentially, he can be recalled and re-elected in the same election, according to officials.
“We will continue to let the people’s voices be heard,” said Light whose term was set to expire in May. “This is about securing the future of water in Mineral Wells.”
Light said he still believes the Council has made the best decision possible for the community, despite being the target of the group.
They call themselves just a group of “concerned citizens” who are unhappy with the Council and began organizing and seem to be gaining momentum in their complaints and actions about the water rate hikes, the Turkey Peak Reservoir bond package and general overall displeasure of the City’s direction.
The $277 million water infrastructure bond package that was approved by Council last September and will be paid for through revenue bonds via rate hikes presented in a 5 year rate study by NewGen Strategies has accelerated the actions of the growing group.
Water customers began seeing the increased rates in November. The rate increase is almost 70% and the City is getting some push back.
The group seems to be led by Terri Glidewell and is supported by Brandon Johnson, who spoke during the Public Comment portion of the Council meeting, among many others who show their support of the group’s mission to recall the Council.
In October, Glidewell’s group started their recall mission with Ward 1 Councilman Jerrell Tomlin by going door to door in the Ward getting enough signatures to have a successful petition for recall. Tomlin’s term is up in May, and unlike Doyle Light, he’s not sure if he will file for re-election. The deadline to do so is in February.
