Updated 8:15 p.m.

Candidate Toby Powell defeated Jim Gentry in the Conroe mayoral runoff election June 25, while Duane Ham won the City Council Position 1 race over opponent Tony Fuller. Powell garnered 54.6 percent of the vote with 1,694 votes, compared to Gentry, who earned 45.4 percent of votes with 1,411, according to unofficial results. "It was a great win that was hard fought until the very end," Powell said. "Now we have to go to work. My first priority is the 2016-17 budget. I am going to be visiting with the staff and seeing where we are spending our money and where we should be spending our money." Powell said he plans to attend the city's budget meeting June 28 even though he will not be sworn in until July 6. Ham garnered 60.4 percent of the early vote with 1,718 votes in the City Council Position 1 race, compared to Fuller, who earned 39.6 of early votes with 1,269. Ham said he thanked the Fuller campaign for a good race and plans to serve Conroe residents to the best of his ability. "During this campaign I focused on one thing—serving the citizens of Conroe," Ham said. "In the words of the 41st U.S. President [George H.W. Bush], 'I intend to serve the interest of the citizens in a noble and honorable way.'"

Posted 7:45 p.m.

City of Conroe mayoral candidate Toby Powell took a lead following early voting results, while Duane Ham has an early advantage in the City Council Position 1 race during early voting for the June 25 runoff election. Powell garnered 54.7 percent of the early vote with 1,356 votes, compared to opponent Jim Gentry, who earned 45.3 percent of early votes with 1,124, according to unofficial results. Powell owns and operates Powell Construction and said he plans to prioritize growth of the city's fire and police departments, grow the city budget and address infrastructure improvement needs if elected. Gentry owns and operates Jim Gentry Builder and said, if elected, he will seek to attract businesses to the city's technology park, diversify the city's water resources and maintain low property and sales tax rates. Ham garnered 56.8 percent of the early vote with 1,360 votes in the City Council race, compared to opponent Tony Fuller who earned 43.2 of early votes with 1,034. Ham said, if elected, he will prioritize long-term strategic growth and development of the city, limiting city annexations to sensible growth areas and reducing the cost of water. Fuller said he will focus on increasing governmental transparency, addressing water management issues and bolstering economic growth and quality of life if elected. All results are unofficial until canvased.