All three City of Katy races saw narrow victories, chiefly with Fabol Hughes' victory as mayor by less than 1 percent. Hughes received 739 votes, or 50.9 percent, and Carol Adams garnered 713, or 49.1 percent, according to unofficial results.
"We have a lot of work to do, but we have a very conservative council and they know what's needs to be done," Hughes said. "I am just humbled and overwhelmed. I'm not going to go in and make any drastic changes—I'm not about firing people."
Chuck Brawner won the seat for City Council member Ward A with 342 votes, or 65.6 percent, beating fellow candidate Sandra Byrd who received 179 votes, or 34.3 percent. The position was held by Adams until she filed to run for mayor. The winning candidate will complete the unexpired Ward A term, which will be up for re-election in 2014.
"Both Sandra Byrd and I ran a positive campaign that was focused on the issues, and I appreciate her and the job that she's done," Brawner said. "I'm very pleased the voters of Katy elected me to represent them, and I'm going to work very hard to meet some of the issues the voters have told me about."
Ward B candidate Jimmy Mendez secured the seat with 463 votes, or 53.2 percent, while Betsy Proctor received 406 votes, or 46.7 percent.
Mendez could not be reached for comment on Election Day.
Adams and Hughes are both former Katy City Council members who both said they hoped to bring further change to the city as mayor. Adams said she promised to focus on reviving Downtown Katy with improvements including a new City Hall. Hughes said he will maintain his conservative views and values and hopes to expand the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction to the west and north.
Ward A winner Brawner is chief of police for Spring Branch ISD and boasts more than 40 years of law enforcement experience, while fellow candidate Byrd is a longtime Katy resident and said she wanted to retain the city's small-town atmosphere.
Proctor, a business owner in Downtown Katy, mirrored Adams' hopes in bringing more business into the city, while Mendez—with Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital's security department—said he hopes to focus on improving the city's infrastructure and beefing up the city's public safety departments.
City council member Bill Lawton ran uncontested to keep his seat as council member Ward A.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.