AUSTIN, Texas — It may seem like we just finished having an election, but some of the Nov. 5 contests didn’t end with a clear winner, meaning some local candidates are now facing off again.
Here’s a breakdown of the few runoffs happening in our area.
Travis County runoff elections
There are three races Travis County residents decided in Saturday’s runoff, depending on where they live.
In Austin City Council District 7, voters appeared to narrowly elect Mike Siegel over Gary Bledsoe to be their next city council member. Siegel had 51% of the 8,598 votes cast in the runoff election for the council seat, ahead of Bledsoe by just 206 votes 4,402 to 4,196. The race to fill the seat vacated by Leslie Pool, who can’t run again because of term limits, went to a runoff because neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote during the general election.
The race was tight throughout the night, at one point narrowing to just a 52 vote gap with Bledsoe on top.
Meanwhile, Austin ISD voters appeared to choose Fernando Lucas de Urioste over Lindsey Stringer for an at-large seat on the district’s Board of Trustees. De Urioste carried 70% of the vote, ahead of Stringer 12,455 to 5,323. Stringer is a former teacher and the vice president of technology and business operations at the nonprofit National Math and Science Initiative, while De Urioste is a former substitute teacher and the director of advocate services at the Crikiel Law Group.
Finally, voters in Manor appeared to reelect incumbent mayor Christopher Harvey. Harvey was ahead of his challenger, Tricia Campbell, by more than three-quarters of the 470 votes cast in the runoff election, 357 votes to Campbell’s 113.
It would Harvey’s second term as mayor, who was first elected to lead the city in 2021.
“When folks elect me to be the mayor, they’re saying to me that they trust my leadership and the vision. They trust my counterparts and council members,” Harvey said. “It’s been a surreal experience the entire time on city council because it’s the people saying we want this, and we’re asking you to make this happen for us. It’s an honor. I’m humbled every day I get to serve the people of Maynard.”
Harvey said it was nerve-racking to go to a runoff because no one got more than 50 percent of the vote during the general election, but he thanked those who supported him and came out to vote in the runoff election.
Harvey gathered with friends and supporters at Libation Station in Manor on Saturday night. He thanked the faith community, his church family and others in the Manor community.
“It’s bigger than it’s bigger than election,” Harvey said. “This is about making Maynard a place that families can move in, and we can work together to create a model city that’s built on faith and trust.”
Campbell ran a campaign for mayor on promises of fiscal responsibility at city hall, smart development and mobility and tax relief. Campbell said there is a need for strategic growth and upgrades to infrastructure, but it should not burden taxpayers.
She said there would always be another chance to run for mayor and learned a lot from the experience.
“Going forward, I plan on being an integral part of this community in many different ways and bringing the community together, not just businesses but also the residents of the community because there are a lot of great businesses in the community that impact the residents,” Campbell said. “Let’s work together to make Manor a wonderful place to live with a great quality of life.”
Campbell said running for mayor has sparked her interest in getting involved in community issues beyond just the mayoral race.
Harvey talked about the importance of unity and coming together to get passed issues dividing the community.
“Let’s keep focusing on community, and then let’s start working with the school districts and nonprofits to be mentors for our youth,” Harvey said. “Part of what we’re gonna be doing is utilizing our facilities that we’re building to bring more youth programs and opportunities. Community engagement. One strong Manor.”
Topping the list of his priorities for another term in office is infrastructure and needed highway safety projects on Route 290 and FM 973. There are also intersections in town rated E’s and F’s that Harvey said need to be addressed.
Harvey said he also has big plans for economic development.
“Our plans for a Manor town square include our new city hall and library, and it will be a massive design. It’s about 80-acre development, and it will be our forever home,” Harvey said. “It’s outdoor plaza space for the farmers’ market, outdoor concerts, and different activities as well as a massive 2 to 3-story library.”
Hays County runoff elections
Over in Hays County, voters in San Marcos and Kyle had another opportunity to decide their city council members.
In San Marcos, voters had a choice between Lorenzo Gonzales and Roland Saucedo for City Council Place 5. In Kyle, voters in City Council District 5 chose between Melisa Medina and Marc McKinney.
For the San Marcos City Council Place 5 runoff, Lorenzo Gonzalez was leading Roland Saucedo by just 12 votes, 424 to 412, or 50.72% to 49.28% with 100% of precincts reporting.
For the Kyle City Council District 5 runoff, Marc McKinney was leading Melisa Medina 522 votes to 239 votes, or 68.59% to 31.41% with 100% of precincts reporting.
Full results for Hays County can be found here.