Updated at 10 p.m May 7
According to unofficial results, voters have re-elected incumbents Andrea Navarrette and Jeff Seiler to Leander City Council.
Williamson County reports Navarrette won Place 1 with 56.55 percent of votes, or 656 votes. Her opponent, Dan Michie, received 43.45 percent of votes, or 504 votes.
“I'm … humbled that I’ve been able to maintain the confidence of the voters and I look forward to the next three years," Navarrette said. “Thank you to everybody and all of the supporters that have stuck in there throughout the campaign and got [me] to this point. … [I am] looking forward to growing Leander into the best city it can be.”
Seiler reclaimed the Place 5 seat with 62.89 percent of votes, or 700 votes. Seiler's opponent, Philip Contatore, received 37.11 percent of votes, or 413 votes.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Posted at 7:35 p.m. May 7
According to unofficial early voting results May 7, incumbents Andrea Navarrette and Jeff Seiler are in the lead for two seats on Leander City Council.
Andrea Navarrette is leading for the Place 1 seat with 58.90 percent of votes, or 374 votes. Dan Michie received 41.10 percent of votes, or 261 votes.
Jeff Seiler is leading for the Place 5 seat with 64.67 percent of votes, or 399 votes. Philip Contatore received 35.33 percent of votes, or 218 votes.
“I'm very happy and proud to represent the city and very pleased the voters spoke," Seiler said. "I'm proud the bond [election is] looking good and can't wait to get started [on council] again.”
Council members serve three-year terms without term limits and can receive reimbursement for conferences, meals, travel and other expenses directly related to their role on City Council.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Place 3 Council Member Shanan Shepherd is running unopposed.
Place 1 candidates
Dan Michie, a retired Army officer and local Realtor, was born in northeastern Utah and served in the Navy.
In April for Community Impact Newspaper’s candidates Q&A, Michie said the quality of life for Leander residents could be improved by lowering the tax and water rates by attracting and promoting regional and national businesses.
“When we expand our tax base with more commercial development, including corporate employers, we will add flexibility in guiding growth,” he said.
Incumbent Andrea Navarrette is a help desk specialist in the information technology services department at Leander ISD and has two children. She currently serves in her second nominated term as mayor pro tem for Leander City Council.
In April for Community Impact Newspaper’s candidates Q&A, Navarrette said it is “imperative” to make the city’s fire and public safety departments a council priority.
“The most important issue we face … is relieving the tax burden on homeowners,” she said. “Through conservative leadership … this year we [adopted] the largest tax rate decrease in over two decades. I hope to be able to continue that trend.”
Place 5 candidates
Philip Contatore has worked for the Austin Police Department since 2001 and is an adoptive father of two children.
Contatore graduated from Columbia Southern University magna cum lade with a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice administration.
In April for Community Impact Newspaper’s candidates Q&A, Contatore said the city needs to “aggressively” seek businesses and employers for Leander.
“[I] am so tired of seeing my taxes increase while watching our retail tax dollars go … to Cedar Park and Austin,” Contatore said. “I would stand up to [Capital] Metro and demand improved weekend and evening [rail] schedules.”
Incumbent Jeff Seiler moved from Cedar Park to Leander when he was 3 years old. Seiler has two children and said he was drawn to City Council because of his passion for leadership and economic development.
“The biggest challenge facing Leander is proactively managing the continued growth that is coming,” Seiler said. “It takes responsible preparation to provide the resources that our public safety needs to protect our residents. It takes strategic planning to provide parks and other amenities that we all want to enjoy.”
