The new seat comes after the annexation of Castle Hills to Lewisville, which accounted for an additional 18,000 people and 2,568 acres.
Lewisville has five council members, but a sixth will be added during the May local election.
“In the broad scope, we felt that having that additional seat would provide for more representation and better coverage of meetings,” Lewisville Mayor TJ Gilmore said.
With the new seat, the council changed from an at-large council to a district council. This means Lewisville is split into districts, and council members must live within the district they represent, but the seat is voted on by all of Lewisville, Gilmore said.
“It gives you the best of both single members and at-large options,” he said.
Districts allow for council members to be a voice for that specific part of town, Gilmore said. Members also have to look at issues in greater Lewisville because they are voted into office by all residents.
“It means residents will have a greater voice in their local government, which is always a good thing,” he said.
The additional council member, who will be required to live in the Castle Hills area, will bring a new perspective to council because no other council member lives there, Gilmore said.
“We don’t necessarily have that same understanding of what is going on over there,” he said.
