Runoff elections finals

Runoff elections finals

By Melissa Mixon Friday, 19 June 2009

Mayor, council members re-elected; Navarette wins Place 1

Leander voters chose incumbents over challengers this election cycle, sending Mayor John Cowman, Place 2 councilwoman Kirsten Lynch, Place 4 councilwoman Michell Cantwell and Place 6 councilman Dave Siebold back to the dais. Voters also chose Andrea Navarrette in the special election for Place 1, which was vacated when former councilman Vic Villarreal made an unsuccessful bid for the mayor’s seat.

Lynch defeated Carl Wake in the May 9 general election, but the other four positions were decided in the June 13 runoff.

Cowman won over Iris Davis, Cantwell defeated Cathy Broun, Siebold beat Josh Payne and Navarrette defeated Mark Kronkosky.

Cowman, Cantwell, Siebold and Navarrette ran as a block, as did Davis, Broun, Payne and Kronkosky. The challengers campaigned largely on water and tax issues, while the incumbents and Navarrette ran on a platform citing progress the city has made under its current leadership.

“It’s not surprising,” Siebold said of the election. “I think the negative tone these other guys had just wasn’t getting across to the voters. We [had] a little bit more of a positive type of approach.”

The next step for the council will be to start working on the budget for next year, which will likely be challenging with the way the economy is right now, Siebold said.

“We’ll be plenty busy over the next three years, but I’m looking forward to it. It should be a fun three years; there’s a lot of exciting stuff coming forward,” he said.

Cantwell said the fact that she and her fellow incumbents were re-elected means Leander will be able to continue moving in a positive direction.

Cowman said the results of the election were a mandate for what he described as the progressive direction the city has moved in over the last several years.

“This is a turning point for Leander, that the citizens’ have said progressive is where we want to go,” Cowman said. “I’m very, very proud of everybody.”

Lynch said she is happy the turnout for the runoff election was high, but is glad the campaigning is over, so council members can get back to the business of the city.

“We won’t break stride; we’ll just keep going,” she said.Cantwell echoed that sentiment.

“[Council will] continue to try to attract additional employers, additional commercial, retail, hopefully additional restaurants. And, of course with Valence, I hope that all of that will go through with the federal government,” Cantwell said. “That alone, if they get that grant, will bring a lot of supporting businesses that will come automatically.”

Cowman, Lynch, Cantwell and Siebold were all elected to full, three-year terms. Navarrette was elected to finish the remainder of the Place 1 term, which ends in 2010.

In Cedar Park, only one council member faced an opponent. Incumbent Scott Mitchell defeated Joe Young.

In the elections for Leander ISD board, Lisa Mallory was elected to Place 1 and Don Hisle was re-elected for Place 2.

For more 2009 election details, go to www.impactnews.com/vote09.