Updated Nov. 3 at 9:10 p.m.
The race for Buda City Council Place 3 will go to a runoff after Jose Montoya and David Nuckels secured more votes than third-place challenger Basil Lombardo, but neither received a majority of the tallies.
With all precincts reporting, Montoya, the incumbent in the race, received 39.9 percent, or 245 tallies; Nuckels received 37.3 percent, or 229 tallies; and Lombardo is eliminated from the race after receiving 22.8 percent, or 140 votes, according to unofficial results Nov. 3.
"Even though we got the most votes we didn't get enough," Montoya said. He said he is ready to approach campaigning for the runoff head-on.
Nuckels said he will continue to meet Buda residents in person while campaigning for the decisive election.
"I'm really honored and thrilled that so many people out there voted for me," he said. "I am looking forward to this runoff. We'll see how it turns out."
A date for the runoff will not be finalized until Buda City Council confirms the result and declares a runoff election.
Buda City Council Place 4 incumbent George Haehn did not draw any challengers to the seat he has held since 2012 and will remain on the council through November 2018. Council members serve three-year terms.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted Nov. 3 at 7:50 p.m.
The race for Buda City Council Place 3 could go to a runoff after Jose Montoya and David Nuckels secured more votes in early voting than third-place challenger Basil Lombardo, but neither received a majority of the tallies.
According to unofficial early voting results Nov. 3, Nuckels received 43.7 percent, or 86 tallies; Montoya, the incumbent in the race, received 36 percent, or 71 tallies; and Lombardo is heading toward elimination from the race after receiving 20.3 percent, or 40 votes.
“That’s exciting news,” said Nuckels, who has lived in Buda for three years. “I’m really honored that the citizens chose to vote for me. If I end up winning I hope I can end up doing the best for them.”
A South Texas native, Nuckels said he would leverage his experience managing water resources in his professional life to help with the city's current water supply challenges. He has not previously sought elected office.
Lombardo is a small-business owner. He has served on the boards of the Hays Central Appraisal District and Wimberley ISD in the past.
Montoya has held the Place 3 seat on Buda City Council since November 2012.
"It looks like it's going to be a runoff," Montoya said. He added that a contingent of residents on Buda's west side oppose his re-election because they fear a proposed low-income housing project would lower their property values. The project ultimately faded out.
The Pointe at Overlook, a 110-unit housing development at 645 FM 967, was not recommended for approval by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the state agency that disburses funds for the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
But Montoya said the city lacks affordable housing options, and supporting the project would not have cost the city but likely would have produced revenue in the form of interest on a loan to the developer.
Buda City Council Place 4 incumbent George Haehn did not draw any challengers to the seat he has held since 2012. Haehn was the sole council member to vote against the resolution of financial support to the low-income housing project.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
