Paul Slechta[/caption] Updated 8:20 p.m. Dec. 8 Paul Slechta defeated Christian Ross in the polls by 520 votes and wins the election race for the Grapevine City Council Place 1 race. With all precincts reporting, Slechta received 67.71 percent of the votes and Ross collected 32.29 percent of the votes. "I'm so excited that the election is over," Slechta said. "It really gave me more appreciation for what these elected officials do every three years when they have to campaign. I'm ready for the next step and I'm looking forward to serving the community. Obviously the people think I can make a difference in Grapevine and I'm ready to make a difference. Hopefully I will make everyone proud." Slechta said after the race he did hear from his opponent. "I talked to Christian Ross after the race was over, and I just want to say what a great campaign he ran," he said. "We both ran a very clean campaign, and we never said not one bad word about one another. I hope he stays involved in the Grapevine community because we need people like him to stay involved and as he said in his campaign 'Keep Grapevine Great.'" Posted 7:02 p.m. Dec. 8 After early votes were tallied, Paul Slechta is leading with 70.75 percent percent of the vote, and Christian Ross trails with 29.25 percent of the vote in the runoff election for Grapevine City Council Place 1 seat. The winner will fill the seat vacated by Mayor Pro Tem Shane C. Wilbanks after his August death. The term for Place 1 will expire in May 2018. Results are unofficial until canvassed. Slechta, 46, owner of Panda Embroidery, has lived in Grapevine for 19 years. If elected he plans to  provide input to keep Grapevine fiscally responsible and responsive to the citizens’ needs. Also, he plans to reach out to each department and board/commission to understand how they function, what their needs are, and what he can do to help make them even more efficient and successful. Ross, 37, owner of Eight90 Designs, has lived in Grapevine for nine years. If elected he pledges to be a leader who provides transparency in all that he does, be accountable in his duties and decisions and accessible to all looking for civil discussion.