With the majority of polling locations reporting, two new City Council members and an incumbent have been elected, and the race for Leander mayor will continue in a runoff election.
For the mayoral race, Troy Hill led the pack with 42.51 percent of the vote, Vic Villarreal followed with 31.87 percent and Adam C. Benefield finished with 25.61 percent. Since no candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff election between Hill and Villarreal for mayor is set for June 16. Early voting is scheduled for June 4-12, according to the city of Leander.
Villarreal said the election process for the Leander mayor is continuing, and he said he remains committed to his campaign core values and goals.
"I want to thank Adam Benefield for his lively approach to his campaign and look forward to a runoff season with Troy Hill," he said. "My hope is that we focus on discussing goals, results, experience and vision for our great city."
Hill could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.
Incumbent Michelle Stephenson was re-elected to City Council Place 2 with 69.63 percent of the vote. Her challenger, Phil Contatore, brought in 30.37 percent of the vote.
Incumbent Ron Abruzzese lost his Place 4 seat with 37.07 percent of the vote to challenger Christine Sederquist, who brought in 62.93 percent of the vote.
The three candidates running for Place 6 nearly avoided a runoff election with Marci Cannon winning the race with 50.62 percent of the vote. Challengers Marshall Hines followed with 32.52 percent of the vote and Derek Levisay with 16.86 percent of the vote.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
Original story posted at 7:23 p.m.
Leander residents voted to elect a new mayor and three City Council members today and through early voting.
Adam C. Benefield, Troy Hill and Vic Villarreal are facing off to be the next head of the city. Phil Contatore and Michelle Stephenson are running for City Council Place 2; Ron Abruzzese and Christine Sederquist are running for City Council Place 4; and Marci Cannon, Marshall Hines and Derek Levisay are running for City Council Place 6. Readers can read more about the candidates here.
Early voting results show Hill in the lead for mayor with Villarreal coming in second; Stephenson in the lead for City Council, Place 2; Sederquist in the lead for City Council, Place 4; and Cannon in the lead for City Council, Place 6 with Hines coming in second.
If none of the three candidates for mayor or City Council, Place 6 earn more than 50 percent of the vote, then a runoff election will occur. The two top vote-getters in each race would then advance to a runoff. Currently, none of the candidates for mayor are polling in at over 50 percent, but Cannon is polling in at 50.32 percent.
Voters also considered eight amendments to the city’s charter, including changes to the city’s comprehensive plan and the process regarding filling vacancies on City Council. Readers can find out more about the ballot language and a breakdown of the amendments here.
In Leander’s 2015 municipal election, 5.46 percent of registered voters cast a ballot for a mayoral candidate. That year, residents elected Stephenson, Abruzzese and Hill to serve on City Council and Chris Fielder to serve as mayor.
