By Katy Moore
Staff Writer

 

Staff photo: Allison Slomowitz Matt Shaheen, left, speaks with Don Liefer at a results party at Shaheen’s home prior to winning the election for Collin County Commissioner over Phyllis Cole. Shaheen won by a mere 30 votes.

West Plano resident Matt Shaheen’s supporters were jovial Tuesday when Collin County election results rolled in showing him ahead of incumbent Phyllis Cole by 14 votes at 8:30 p.m.

Only two polling places had yet to turn in their results. When the final two ballot boxes were counted, Shaheen had clinched the Republican Precinct 1 Commissioner nomination by a 30-vote margin. Of 2,260 votes cast, Shaheen received 50.66 percent to Cole’s 49.34 percent.

Shaheen won’t face an opponent in November, and will take office Jan. 1.

Precinct 1 of the county commissioner’s court includes West Plano and parts of Frisco. Shaheen said his win means Collin County citizens are ready for something different.

A technology and management consultant, he cited his endorsements from conservative groups such as Americans for Prosperity, Empower Texans, the Heritage Alliance, and the Texas Homeschool Coalition as catalysts to his win. He also had endorsements from county judge Keith Self and Douglas Reeves, who ran with him for the nomination in February.

Reeves and Self both attended Shaheen’s election night gathering at his West Plano home.

Shaheen had criticized Cole for endorsing a $328 million bond issue that easily passed in November. Self, who heads the five-member commissioner’s court, was the only court member who opposed the bond.

Reeves said he threw his support behind Shaheen because of his fiscally conservative philosophy.

Shaheen has said he will push for term limits for elected officials and lower taxes and spending. He is the second candidate to unseat a longtime incumbent in two years. Self won his seat in a 2006 election and took office Jan. 1, 2007.

Shaheen said the transition at the county level is significant.

“What it tells you is that the citizens of Collin County are ready for a change after so many years of incumbents,” Shaheen said. “I ran against somebody who has been in office nearly 20 years.”

Across the city, at a larger gathering, Cole gathered her supporters shortly after 9 p.m. to share the results. Dozens of supporters, friends, and family listened as she told them she lost by only 30 votes. Some shed a few tears.

“Every time God closes a door, he opens another one,” she said, adding that she had called Shaheen and congratulated him on his win. “This has been a hectic time, but many things have touched my heart. It’s like one big family. We have our ups and downs, but now I get to be a full-time Nana.”

Asked if she would run as an independent in November, Cole answered with a strong “no,” adding that she plans to retire and spend more time with her grandchildren.

Gordon Beach, Cole’s campaign manager and longtime friend, said Shaheen simply managed to pull more of his supporters to the polls.

“We’re obviously very disappointed,” Beach said. “It’s about getting your vote out, and we certainly try to get ours.”