Leander transitioned leadership May 31 as Chris Fielder officially became the city's next mayor.

Fielder defeated incumbent Mayor John Cowman, who served Leander for nine years before losing the May 12 city election. Fielder collected 53.28 percent of the vote to Cowman's 29.88 percent. Third-place finisher Bob Hanson garnered 16.84 percent of the vote.

Cowman did not attend the transitional meeting, but Leander City Council members did use the event to recognize his three terms as mayor. Cowman and mayors prior to him helped set the stage for Fielder, he said.

Mayor Pro Tem David Siebold, who was elected May 12 to his seventh term on the council, agreed the city is in a better place than when Cowman was elected Leander mayor in 2003.

"For all the mayors I have served with, the city has vastly improved with each of their terms," Siebold said. "The nine years with [Cowman] here, we've seen a lot of changes seen a lot of positive growth for the city here with John being a part of that—and I look forward to the next three years."

Siebold and Councilwoman Michell Cantwell were also sworn into their respective seats. Fielder provided each council member Bibles from Pastor Peter Horn of Hill Country Bible Church in Leander for use during the ceremony.

"This was my third time to be sworn in, and I've never been sworn in by a Bible," Fielder said. "While I support and defend the separation of church of state it's very important to me to be sworn in on a Bible."

Fielder's former council seat remains vacant until at least June 16, when Jason Dishongh and John F. Perez will meet for a runoff election. The candidates finished within 15 votes of each other May 12, but neither garnered at least 50 percent of the vote.

Fielder said he has a Bible ready for whomever wins the Place 5 election.