College Station Community Update: Election Results, Fee Increases, and Incident at Middle School

Exciting News from College Station!

Hey College Station! We’ve got some juicy updates for you straight out of the city council elections and our local schools. Grab a snack, settle in, and let’s dive right into what’s been stirring up our community lately!

City Council Race Completed: Scott Shafer Takes the Lead!

In a close and thrilling battle for place six on the city council, Scott Shafer has emerged victorious! After all those exciting provisional, military, and overseas ballots were counted late Tuesday night on November 12, Shafer snagged the win by a slim margin of 221 votes. How’s that for suspense?

Earlier reports on election night, November 5, showed that Shafer was ahead of his opponent Tre Watson by just 215 votes, with a whopping 800 ballots still waiting to be tallied. Talk about nerve-wracking! In the end, Shafer gained an extra 46 votes while Watson picked up 40.

This election saw a great turnout, too, with nearly 70 percent of registered voters in Brazos County casting their ballots. That’s a whopping 92,626 out of 132,601 residents joining in on democracy—kudos to everyone for getting involved!

Texas A&M’s Board of Regents Ups Fees—With Some Disagreement

Mays Business School and one from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Regent John Bellinger from San Antonio vowed to keep voting against fee increases until the university system adopts some efficiency programs across all campuses. Meanwhile, President Mark Welsh emphasized next year’s budget needs to scrutinize existing programs and allocate funds more effectively.

School Drama: A Little Arson on Campus

Stephen F. Austin Middle School. On Monday, November 11, a student decided it would be fun to cause a little chaos by setting a small fire in a first-floor bathroom during school hours. Can you believe that?

Justice Served: Gunfire Incident Resolution

Arnoldo Romero for gunfire outside a Bryan tire store back in May 2020. The 26-year-old was sentenced to an impressive 45 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He also received a concurrent 20-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, making sure he’ll be away from the streets for a long time.

It’s great to see our justice system stepping up to ensure that those who bring crime into our neighborhoods face the music. As the Brazos County District Attorney’s Office said, “Our community will not tolerate that behavior!”

Your Community Updates in a Nutshell