Early voting opens Monday

Early voting opens Monday in the city’s May 7 local option liquor election asking voters to consider permitting the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages (“liquor by the drink”) in the City of Cameron.
The City Council called the election Feb. 26 after City Secretary Amy Harris reported a petition issued in December had been returned and certified with 362 signatures, exceeding the required number of 307.
The Cameron Chamber of Commerce and local businesses filed the petition and gathered the signatures to seek the special election. Chamber members Daniel Willie, current president, and Neal Bhakta, former president, said the measure would help attract more businesses, especially popular restaurant chains.
Noting that some of the chains are now developing smaller facilities for smaller markets, Willie noted that the new Applebees in Taylor “has a small footprint” and pointed out that Taylor economic development officials said they would not have been able to attract the restaurant if the city did not have the “liquor by the drink” permit option.
The special election proposition is the only issue on the May 7 ballot. By law, the city holds elections jointly with Cameron ISD and because incumbents in both elections were unopposed, those elections were canceled.
Harris estimated the special election could cost as much as $8,000 and that poll workers will have to be hired and paid for the early voting days as well as Election Day.
Early voting by personal appearance runs from April 25 through May 3 at Cameron City Hall, 100 S. Houston. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day next week, April 25 through April 29, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, May 2 and 3.
On Election Day Saturday, May 7, voters will cast ballots at C.H. Yoe High School, where the poll will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.