Mayor Douglas Athas secured a third term Saturday in Garland's first council election since 2014.

Garland Mayor Douglas Athas

While Athas, who defeated retired teacher and NAACP activist Leala Green, will complete 20 years of public service by the time he reaches his term limit, the majority of the Garland council will be first-termers. Saturday's election brought two new council members, Robert John Smith and Robert Vera. Incumbent Council member Scott LeMay ran unopposed.

Another newcomer is yet to be decided. Leading Saturday vote-getter Jerry Nickerson will be in a runoff with Ed Moore in District 3, which represents the portion of the city closest to Lake Ray Hubbard. Patricia Anthony ran third on Saturday.

"I'm very comfortable with all of them," Athas said. "I think this is a great opportunity for us to refocus. I'm very anxious to get started with this group. There's still stuff that's got to be done."

A former council and plan commission member, Athas became mayor in a four-way race in 2013 and ran unopposed in 2015.

In neighboring Mesquite, Robert Miklos, a former state representative, defeated Bill Porter to earn a city council seat. With the defeat of Porter, an incumbent, all seven seats on the Mesquite council have now turned over in the last five years. Mesquite Mayor Stan Pickett ran unopposed.