Harker Heights officials have verified enough signatures in residents’ effort to reverse a City Council decision to repeal Proposition A — the ordinance that decriminalizes possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana.
Ground Game Texas needed 348 verified signatures of Harker Heights registered voters before the referendum can be placed on the May 6 ballot. More than 600 signatures were submitted. According to a press release issued Thursday, Harker Heights Assistant City Manager Jerry Bark said 440 signatures were accepted. The petition required 348 signatures of qualified electors of the city.
“The examination of the petition has been completed and it is determined that the petition meets all requirements in accordance with the State law and City Charter,” Bark said in the release. “The certification of the referendum does not revive Chapter 133 (Prop A). Additionally, the City will continue to respect and operate under the laws of the State of Texas that mandate the required conduct for law enforcement officers and prohibit the adoption of a policy under which the City will not fully enforce laws relating to drugs.”
Heights council members, in a 4-1 vote, repealed Proposition A on Nov. 22, citing a contradiction of state law. That came two weeks after 5,208 residents (64%) cast their ballots in Heights for Proposition A. At…