After a historic election that makes Connie Schroeder the first woman to serve as Bastrop mayor, residents will return to the polls in June for the city’s first runoff election for the Place 3 City Council seat.

After no candidate received a majority vote in the three-person race for the Place 3 City Council seat on May 6, the top two vote-getters – Lee Harle and Lyle Nelson – will faceoff on June 17 in a runoff election to replace outgoing Council Member Kay McAnally.

Rachel Corbett, who came in third place in the race, was eliminated from the runoff election.

"The runoff we’re going to have is the first ever in the 185-year history of this community. So, everybody is making history," outgoing Mayor Ken Kesselus said during the May 9 council meeting, when he announced the runoff election dates.

Only 37 votes separated Harle and Nelson on May 6, with Harle receiving 422 votes (43.15 percent) and Nelson garnering 385 (39.37 percent). Corbett received 171 votes (17.48 percent).

Harle said he first began considering the possibility of serving on the City Council over two years ago. He said it was something he wanted to do then and is prepared to do now.

"I have been following the issues and developing relationships with both city and county officials as well as the city staff," Harle said. "Serving on the City Council is not something I decided to do on a whim and I am not a single-issue candidate. I want to serve all of Bastrop and I am ready to get to work."

Nelson said he decided to run for City Council to provide needed representation for all residents and neighborhoods in the city.

"We are striving to answer the call from our residents to have the first representative from the west side of our city on our City Council," Nelson said. "The basics of our campaign is to bring an open inclusive voice for our entire city to the council. The voters know that their participation is vital toward achieving that goal."

Nelson said that the uptick of voters on May 6 from communities outside of downtown indicates residents want more inclusive representation.

Last year, voters who live downtown made up 67 percent of the total votes cast, while voters from the west side of town made up 19 percent of that vote. In May, voters who live downtown (precinct 1002) made up 54 percent of the total vote and voters from precinct 1003, which includes the western neighborhoods of Hunters Crossing and Riverside Grove, made up 30 percent of the total vote, according to an analysis by the Bastrop Advertiser of the election results.

"We are making history with electing Bastrop’s first female mayor and having the first runoff election for a council position in the 185 years that our city has existed," Nelson said.

Schroeder took her seat on the council after being sworn in Tuesday. Schroeder defeated 27-year veteran Council Member Willie DeLaRosa on May 6 for the city’s highest elected office.

Bill Ennis, who came ahead of Nancy Wood for the Place 4 City Council seat DeLaRosa resigned to run for mayor, was also sworn into office Tuesday. Ennis will finish out the remaining year left on that seat.

"I’ve had the pleasure of serving with both Connie and Bill on different projects over the past few years," Harle said. "Both of these individuals are passionate about Bastrop and I feel confident will serve the citizens well. I am excited at the prospect of joining them on the council in June."

"Bastrop is experiencing unprecedented growth," Harle said. "As a councilman, I will bring forward thinking solutions to preserve the historical charm and hometown appeal of this wonderful community."

Early voting for the runoff election will run from June 5-10 and June 12-13. Election Day is June 17.