by VERONICA GORDON
Three seats were up for election on the Buda City Council Tuesday and the council will have three new members with the election of Jose Montoya, Eileen Altmiller and George Haehn.
Incumbent Cathy Chilcote, who has been on the council for 12 years, lost her Place 4 seat to Haehn by 101 votes.
“I’ve enjoyed serving the city and the citizens as a council member and mayor pro tem,” Chilcote said Tuesday night. “I look forward to the next chapter of my life.”
Chilcote said she was proud of her service to the residents and that she is looking forward to “being a civilian” again and spending time with her grandchildren and family.
Chilcote will continue to serve on the city’s economic development council, where she has one year left on her term. Chilcote has been a part of many projects during her time on the council, helping Buda “out of its infancy on its way to adulthood.”
“When I got on the council, there was no comprehensive plan, there was no unified development code, there was no City Hall ... It was a very different type of government, very simple, very basic, “ she reflected. “I saw the city through all those changes. So I feel that with my support, leadership and guidance, Buda has accomplished a lot of the things that provide that quality of life that people are looking for.”
Before the total votes were in, Haehn was cautiously optimistic while awaiting results with Montoya at Buda Grocery and Grill.
“No matter the outcome of the election, I love the enthusiasm of the people that came out to vote,” he told the Hays Free Press. “I hope it continues for the years to come.”
Haehn’s wife Stephanie was nervous about the outcome, but relieved when she learned he won.
“I’m so proud of him,” Stephanie said. “It’s the first time we’ve entered into any politics. The citizens of Buda are the ones who came to our door and asked him to run. He wanted to serve and give of himself.”
Buda residents selected Altmiller to fill the vacated Place 5 seat of Council Member Dawn Schaeffer, who resigned in August.
Altmiller, who faced Jim Corry in her race, was tired Tuesday night but happy to hear that she was victorious in her first attempt at running for office.
“I’m so grateful for all the people who encouraged me (to run),” she said. “This is not something I would have undertaken, so I’m glad I had strong support behind me.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to work and learning even more about the city and some of the issues that we’re facing,” Altmiller said.
“I’m ready to start working tomorrow on the Parks Master Plan,” she added. “And I’m looking forward to the future.
Montoya won his Place 3 seat without an opponent. His contender, Taryn Guerrero Davis, withdrew from the race last month, but her named remained on the ballot.
Davis received 936 votes. Montoya won 1,098.
The city of Buda will also hold an election in the coming days to select a new mayor, as Mayor Sarah Mangham resigned from office unexpectedly last month, due to health concerns.
Council Member Todd Ruge and Council Member Ron Fletcher have filed to run for mayor.
