Voter turnout in Denton County was 8.84%, according to the county elections office.
The Flower Mound mayoral runoff is between France and Gelbman.
France, who has lived in Flower Mound for 10 years, said he is running for mayor to represent residents and give others the opportunities he has had to raise a family there.
“I’m focused on leadership, honor and integrity,” France said. “I think Flower Mound needs a well-respected leader, someone who can take the high road and can look past some of the chatter and focus on the priorities for our town.”
France said he wants to have transparency, bring business to Flower Mound while expanding the sales tax base and fill long-vacant leadership roles within the town.
“My priorities for the town haven’t changed since I decided to make a run for mayor,” France said. “The No. 1 thing we need to do is hire qualified personnel to fill the vacancies that we still have in our town at a very senior level.”
Gelbman said he is motivated by his children and wants them to grow up safe in a community with great schools and beautiful parks, trails and open spaces. He wants them to continue on as Flower Mound residents even as they start their own families.
“I have a proven track record of community participation and for putting residents above all others,” Gelbman told Community Impact Newspaper in a candidate Q&A. “During my council tenure, I fought for transparency and fiscal accountability against eminent domain and high density, including apartment buildings.”
Gelbman could not be reached for comment as of press time, but his Q&A listed his top priorities.
They include supporting SmartGrowth and master plans, overhauling the permitting process, having accountability to taxpayers, balancing the budget and preventing overdevelopment.
The winner of the runoff will replace Flower Mound Mayor Steve Dixon, who, after serving the town since 2004, did not seek re-election.
Flower Mound Town Council member Jim Engel ran unopposed and was re-elected to another term.
New Lewisville mayor
TJ Gilmore, a City Council member since 2011, secured a win against three other challengers to become the new mayor of Lewisville.
He replaces Mayor Rudy Durham, who announced in January that he would be retiring after 27 years on the City Council, including the last six years as mayor.
Gilmore said he is working to reach out to local groups and businesses to gain their support in his new role.
“Not-for-profits, faith communities, businesses, folks that I feel don’t need to come to the mayor, the mayor needs to go to them,” Gilmore said. “That’s from day one. Well, actually, from day negative three.”
Gilmore said one of the challenges going forward is redevelopment within Lewisville.
“We really have to focus on creative redevelopment and creative reuse, and we have to be flexible,” he said. “We have to work with partners that want to engage in a city that’s willing to be creative and flexible.”
Communication was a key to his success as a candidate and will be key to his success as mayor, he said.
“I’m just thankful that folks have seen what I do and how I communicate and maybe even overcommunicate,” Gilmore said. “They felt that that was what they wanted to see in a mayor going forward. I’m very grateful for that.”
Ronni Cade defeated opponent Penny A. Mallet to secure the Place 3 seat on the City Council. She will fill the seat previously held by Gilmore.
Cade has lived in Lewisville for more than 50 years and has previously served on the City Council.
Lewisville city charter amendments
Voters approved three of the four amendments to the city charter, which spells out how the city operates.
Proposition C, which sought to eliminate the requirement that members of the Lewisville Planning and Zoning Commission own property in the city of Lewisville, was rejected. That means those appointed to the board will still be required to be property owners.
Proposition A passed overwhelmingly with 85% of the vote. It will add another seat to the City Council, bringing the total up to six if the proposed annexation of the Castle Hills community occurs later this year. The measure will also increase the number of council members needed to conduct business to four members.
Voters also approved Proposition B, which makes the city’s budget deadlines the same as those used by the state to simplify the process.
Voters favored Proposition D to remove the council’s power to distribute duties to city staff, clarifying that as a power of the city manager.
Highland Village council races
Two Highland Village City Council incumbents won re-election on May 1. Mike Lombardo, who has been on council since 2014, was elected to another term in Place 3 over challenger Andrew Crawford. Incumbent Tom Heslep, who was first elected to council in 2019, earned another term in Place 5 over challenger Jason Bates.
Lewisville ISD trustees
The Lewisville ISD board of trustees election will see retired teacher and administrator Buddy Bonner in Place 1 over challenger Paige Dixon and the return of incumbent Allison Lassahn, who won re-election over Sheila P. Taylor for Place 2.
For complete election results, visit https://communityimpact.com/election-results.
