By Katie Pirolt
May 25, 2009

Texas Mayoral Election Roundup

By Katie Pirolt

May has been a busy month for Texas municipal voters. Over 70 municipal elections were held, including some of the state’s largest cities. In Austin, Councilman Lee Leffingwell was elected with 47 percent of the vote, sending him and Councilman Brewster McCracken to a runoff election. Shortly after the election, McCracken withdrew from the runoff citing heavy fundraising costs. Term limits prevented Incumbent Mayor Will Wynn from running. Wynn was elected in 2003 and has served as Chair to The U.S. Conference of Mayors Energy Committee since 2006. San Antonio elected Julian Castro over nine contenders with 56 percent of the vote. Castro, a Mexican-American graduate of Harvard and native of San Antonio has been called the Hispanic Barack Obama by his supporters. He has been gaining support since his last mayoral campaign in 2005 when he ran against Incumbent Mayor Phil Hardberger. El Paso Mayor John Cook can celebrate another term in office after defeating four opponents with 61 percent of the vote. Cook told voters that he was grateful for their support and confidence and that he is “going to be working to make El Paso a better place to live, work and do business.”

Mayor John Cook can celebrate another term in office after defeating four opponents with 61 percent of the vote. Cook told voters that he was grateful for their support and confidence and that he is “going to be working to make El Paso a better place to live, work and do business.”

Many incumbent mayors won ran successful campaigns and gained another term in office. Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth and Mayor Robert Cluck of Arlington were reelected with little opposition. Both mayors tallied in over 65 percent of the vote. As Arlington is facing a $4 million budget shortfall, Cluck declared “We’ve got a big job ahead of us, we’re all ready to do it, and we’ll do it right.” Incumbent Mayor Ronald Jones of Garland was also reelected, easily surpassing his challengers with 83 percent of the vote, while Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell outperformed his two opponents. Mayor Debra McCartt told the community after winning reelection in Amarillo, “I am so grateful for this opportunity again to serve for two more years. To serve this community is quite an honor.”