After two Cedar Park City Council incumbents did not win re-election May 6, residents and council members thanked the outgoing council members during their last council meeting Thursday evening.

According to unofficial election results from Election Day, Council Members Lyle Grimes and Jon Lux lost their re-election bids for Places 3 and 5. Challengers Anne Duffy, Place 3, and Heather Jefts, Place 5, each won the seats with about 57 percent of the vote. After election results were revealed May 6, Duffy and Jefts spoke about what their initial plans after being sworn into City Council.

Duffy said one of her first focuses will be to build relationships with others on council.

“We both have lived here for a while, and we were ready to step up,” she said. “This will be a change, and we’re going to all have to work together, so relationship building will be a focus.”

 

During the May 11 meeting, several members of Cedar Park City Council spoke in support of Grimes and Lux and their time spent on council over the past four years.

“What a lot of the folks in Cedar Park will never know is how much time you guys put in, how serious you were about it, how hard working you are about it,” Council Member Corbin Van Arsdale said. “You’re good men. You’re men of integrity.”

Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell said a more formal reception will be hosted for Grimes and Lux in the next couple of weeks.

“It will be a chance to spend some time and more formally recognize our colleagues up here,” he said. “I know that it’s something that a number of members of the council are interested in doing in a longer form, as well as I have a feeling there will be a large outpouring of support from the community as well.”

Cedar Park resident Trey Hensley spoke in support of Grimes and Lux.

“I’m proud to live in this city, I’m proud that I’m represented by people who truly care about my way of life, and they want to make it better,” he said. “I’ve been well served by Councilman Lux and Councilman Grimes.”

Both of the outgoing council members also thanked residents, City Council and city staff.

“I put fingerprints on this city that can never be taken away,” Grimes said. “From Veteran’s Memorial Park statue to recognize the people that fought and died for our country, to roads and streets that people drive on every day.”

Lux, who thanked the other council members and city residents, said Cedar Park city staff dedicate themselves to consistently bettering the city.

“I really want to say what an honor and a privilege it’s been to serve this amazing city, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen as it goes on,” he said.

Duffy and Jefts will be officially sworn in at the May 25 meeting, according to the city’s website.