Voters in two north Texas cities will go back to the polls next month to choose their next mayor. None of the candidates running for mayor in either Denton or Mansfield secured a majority during the election on Tuesday.
Long-time Denton Mayor Chris Watts had resigned to run for a seat in the Texas State Senate. He did not win that race, but when he stepped down from the City Council it created an open seat. Three candidates were on the ballot on Tuesday. Current City Council Member Keely Brigs received 48% of the vote. She will face out-going Council Member Gerard Hudspeth, who received 41 percent. Hudspeth did not run for re-election to his current Council seat in order to run for Mayor.
In Mansfield, Mayor David Cook stepped down to run for a seat in the Texas House. He won that race for the District 96 seat to represent southern Tarrant County in Austin when the state legislature convenes in 2021.
That vacancy attracted four candidates. None of them received a majority of the vote. Tarrant County College Board Trustee Michael Evans came in first place with 39% of the vote. He will face Mansfield City Council Member Brent Newsom, who received 30% of the vote.
The runoff elections in both Denton and Mansfield will be held on Tuesday, December 8th.