Leander voters overwhelmingly selected Jason Dishongh to fill the final Leader City Council vacancy in the June 16 runoff election.
Dishongh defeated challenger John F. Perez 306-181 in Leander's lone runoff election for Place 5. All votes have been counted but remain unofficial. Perez lost to Dishongh by 15 votes in the May 12 city election, but neither candidate garnered more than 50 percent of the vote—prompting the runoff election.
He fills the spot once occupied by new Leander Mayor Chris Fielder, who defeated incumbent John Cowman. Dishongh said he looks forward to working with Fielder, first-year City Manager Kent Cagle and the rest of the Leander City Council.
"I'm excited about the team we've got together," Dishongh said. "There's some great new leadership."
Council members now have a shared vision, Dishongh said, which will prove valuable for Leander residents.
"I want to try to get a better relationship with citizens," he said. "I want them to know where we're going."
Leading up to the election, Dishongh expressed an interest in helping Leander grow by attracting large-scale employers. While some goals must be implemented gradually, the professional bank manager said he intends on getting right to work.
"There's some things I can get on board immediately and start working with the council," Dishongh said.
He will be sworn in at the June 21 Leander City Council meeting.