Updated May 7 at 10:45 p.m.


Final unofficial results show Matt Powell has been reelected as Cedar Park mayor with 89.62 percent of the vote, or 2,141 votes. Write-in candidate Marshall Bennett posted 10.38 percent of the vote, or 248 votes.

"I'm incredibly honored to be returned to office," Powell said. "[Serving as mayor] continues to be a great honor in my life. The faith shown in me and my family with the number [of votes garnered] tonight is astounding. I'm excited about the days ahead of us in Cedar Park."

All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Posted May 7 at 7:05 p.m.


Early voting results indicate that Matt Powell is leading the election for the mayor of Cedar Park with 91.67 percent, or 1,442 votes, and write-in candidate Marshall Bennett trailing with 8.33 percent, or 131 votes.

Although Bennett’s name did not appear on the ballot, his name was stated at all polling locations, said Jennie Huerta, media and communications manager for the city of Cedar Park. Bennett filed a Declaration of Write In Candidacy preventing him from being listed on the ballot but allowing his votes to be counted if the voter wrote his name on the pertinent ballot line, she said.

“Bennett’s original application was rejected due to its omission of information regarding his continuous residence in the territory from which he would be elected, [the city of Cedar Park],” Huerta said. “Without this information his eligibility cannot be confirmed as required by law, and the application [was] rejected.”

Powell served on the Cedar Park City Council since 2005 and spent the last four years as the city’s mayor. He also serves on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board and was instrumental in the passage of $10 million in road funding for Cedar Park.

“Public safety continues to be my top priority,” Powell said. “A fifth fire station and an expanded, improved police station would go a long way toward further improving public safety. We have proven in the last four years that we can meet community needs while maintaining a lean budget and lowering tax rates.”

Bennett has been a resident of Cedar Park for nine years. Previously he served as a U.S. Army chaplain in Iraq and is a sociology professor and career counselor at Austin Community College. He  is also a small business owner.

“Presently, the charter gives council itself the power to appoint new members in the event of a vacancy,” Bennett said. “Aside from being a usurpation of citizens’ right to self-determination, this practice also represents a clear conflict of interest and potential moral hazard. We should end the appointments, increase the term to three years and move to an annual election cycle.”

Cedar Park City Council members and the city’s mayor are elected at large.

All results are unofficial until canvassed.