Saturday’s school bond elections in Wood County saw Alba-Golden’s request for $16 million fail by a more than two to one margin, 626-243, while Mineola ISD’s bond for just under $30 million was approved by voters by just over 60%, 604-398.

In unofficial returns of the race for three Mineola school board seats, incumbents Glen Dossett and Jill Melvin Quiambao were returned to the board while the race for the third seat was tight, with Janice Etheridge receiving 360 votes and Todd Morgan 356. Quiamboa polled 630 votes and Dossett 523.

Quitman school board voting was also tight for two seats. Todd Williams led with 278, Raymond Peek had 225 and Brook Rogers 221.

The top vote getters among six candidates for two Alba-Golden school board seats were former superintendent Dwayne Ellis with 344 and Matt Haisten with 342. Incumbent Dwayne Thompson was next with 285.

Mineola City Council member Sue Jones easily retained her Ward One seat with 183 votes to 73 for Bobby Ryan. Wards Two and Three were uncontested, with Eric Carrington and Cassandra Sampson earning reelection.

Wood County voters supported the passage of two state constitutional amendments, also approved handily across the state.

Prop. One passed 3,350 to 548 while Prop. Two was approved 3,475 to 498 locally.

Both extend school property tax exemptions for homeowners.

The Alba-Golden bond package included a new competition gym, classroom addition for the elementary school and renovations to career and technical education facilities.

Mineola ISD plans to build a new primary school, renovate the elementary campus as a high school career and technical education center, build a new auto mechanics shop and renovate other CTTE facilities.

The primary campus, to be built on Loop 564 East, near FM 1254, will be the first project undertaken, with construction expected to begin by the end of the summer and last 12-18 months.