Port Arthur District 2 City Councilman Cal Jones will keep his seat despite his 2017 election opponent’s court challenge heard last month in Beaumont.

Judge John Woolridge rejected former District 2 Councilwoman Tiffany Hamilton’s lawsuit about the way votes were cast or divided in the May 2017 City Council election. She said that there were people who live in her district, District 2, and whose identifications match their addresses, but were told they had to vote in District 1. She lost the election by three votes.

Tom Kelley, Jones’ attorney, said he was “super happy” about the outcome and Jones would be back at work, serving the people of his district.

“The people of Port Arthur are lucky to have him,” he said.

Kelley said there was a lack of evidence to allege someone was denied their right to vote.

“In the U.S., that’s about as serious as it gets to allege someone was denied their right to vote. We’ve had people who fought and died about this issue,” Kelley said.

Hamilton could not be reached for comment.