Updated 10:44 p.m. CST

Sabino "Pio" Renteria will represent District 3 on the Austin City Council.

According to unofficial results, Renteria received 59.76 percent, or 2,557 votes, to Susana R. Almanza's 40.24 percent, or 1,722 votes.

Renteria could not be reached for comment.

Posted 7:10 p.m. CST

According to unofficial results, Sabino "Pio" Renteria is leading among early voters in the runoff election to represent District 3 on Austin City Council.

Renteria is leading with 56.97 percent of early votes, or 1,438 votes, and opponent Susana R. Almanza has 43.03 percent, or 1,086 votes.

Renteria could not be reached for comment.

Almanza said going door-to-door has shown her how many people were confused about the runoff.

We've heard people say, 'I already voted for you,' and we explain there's a runoff," she said.

This is the first election in which Austin residents can vote for City Council candidates in 10 distinct geographic districts, rather than voting citywide for at-large City Council candidates.

Voters approved the new City Council system in November 2012. The system separates the districts for council candidates but preserves at-large voting for the Austin mayor's office. The city's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission established the new districts in 2013.

After the new City Council is elected, five members will be selected at random to serve initial two-year terms and five will serve initial four-year terms. The initial terms allow future council elections to be held every two years, and future council terms will last four years.