Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

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November 3, 2009

Amendments gain approval in Tuesday vote

From Staff and Wire Reports

Just over 7 percent of Navarro County’s 23,956 voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s state constitutional amendment election.

Voters had 11 statewide propositions to decide in Tuesday’s election. In Navarro County, all but one of the proposals — Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment to help create more top-tier research universities — gained voter approval.

However, statewide returns indicate all 11 of the constitutional amendments will pass, including a proposition limiting the government’s eminent domain powers and another creating a fund for more top-tier research universities, along with nine other constitutional amendments on the ballot.

Proposition 11 — the eminent domain amendment supported by the Texas Farm Bureau, Gov. Rick Perry and Perry’s Republican rival, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison — had 81 percent of the vote favoring it and 19 percent against, with more than half of all precincts reporting.

A proposition to guarantee public access to beaches and another to help build veterans hospitals also sailed to passage.

Those were the highest-profile propositions in a low-key statewide election.

Only spotty opposition emerged to any of the proposed amendments.

Proposition 11 to limit eminent domain powers will state in the constitution that governments in Texas are prevented from seizing private property and giving it to a private developer to boost the tax base.

One group opposed to Prop 11 was the private property and anti-toll road organization Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, which said the proposed amendment leaves open loopholes and doesn’t address issues like diminished access to remaining land after an eminent domain seizure.

Terri Hall, founder and director of TURF, said Texans sent a strong message with their vote Tuesday that they want eminent domain reform, but she said Prop 11 doesn’t get the job done.

“The Texas Legislature needs to continue the push for further reforms and to prevent abuses,” she said.

Proposition 9 cements in the Texas Constitution the state’s open beaches law. Backers said it will protect public beach access from lawsuits or legislative interference, while opponents said it could erode private property rights.

———

On the Net:

Texas Secretary of State’s Office at www.sos.state.tx.us. Look for final returns Wednesday on our online newspaper, www.corsicanadailysun.com

Click here to Soundoff on this story.



Final Navarro County Election Returns

State Constitutional Amendments



Prop. 1 — Authorizes financing methods to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to military bases.

Yes 970 No 896



Prop. 2 — Allows the Legislature to provide for ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence, not at the potentially higher commercial use value.

Yes 1,284 No 593



Prop. 3 — Provides for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for taxation.

Yes 1,123 No 740



Prop. 4 — Establishes a national research university fund to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence as major research universities.

Yes 854 No 984



Prop. 5 — Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities, meaning area appraisal boards can be consolidated if they choose.

Yes 977 No 856



Prop. 6 — Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized, preventing the land board from continually having to seek legislative authorization.

Yes 1,115 No 687



Prop. 7 — Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

Yes 1,341 No 525



Prop. 8 — Authorizes the state to contribute money, property and other resources to establish veterans hospital.

Yes 1,382 No 492



Prop. 9 — Protects the right of the public to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

Yes 1,440 No 416



Prop. 10 — Limits elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts to terms no longer than four years.

Yes 1,430 No 426



Prop. 11 — Prohibits governments from taking private property for private economic development to increase a tax base.

Yes 1,572 No 311



Partial Statewide Election Returns

70 percent of precincts reporting



Prop. 1 — Authorizes financing methods to acquire buffer zones or open spaces next to military bases.

Yes 181,717 No 135,622



Prop. 2 — Allows the Legislature to provide for ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence, not at the potentially higher commercial use value.

Yes 208,650 No 113,220



Prop. 3 — Provides for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for taxation.

Yes 204,515 No 116,434



Prop. 4 — Establishes a national research university fund to help emerging research universities achieve national prominence as major research universities.

Yes 182,191 No 136,543



Prop. 5 — Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities, meaning area appraisal boards can be consolidated if they choose.

Yes 190,963 No 120,336



Prop. 6 — Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized, preventing the land board from continually having to seek legislative authorization.

Yes 208,203 No 104,079



Prop. 7 — Allows an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

Yes 229,286 No 89,228



Prop. 8 — Authorizes the state to contribute money, property and other resources to establish veterans hospital.

Yes 244,278 No 76,712



Prop. 9 — Protects the right of the public to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

Yes 249,836 No 68,763



Prop. 10 — Limits elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts to terms no longer than four years.

Yes 237,502 No 79,816



Prop. 11 — Prohibits governments from taking private property for private economic development to increase a tax base.

Yes 253,595 No 64,499

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