Update: this story was updated on Dec. 14 to include a statement given by Bear Heiser to the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch.
KYLE — The race for Kyle City Council’s District 1 seat is officially over, with Bear Heiser claiming victory over Amanda Stark pending unofficial results as of 8:52 p.m.
The District 1 seat has been vacant since council member Dex Ellison’s resignation in August 2022. During the Nov. 8 election, Heiser and Stark ran against six other candidates and received the highest number of votes (2,220 and 3,128, respectively), thus calling for a runoff election as neither garnered more than 50% of the vote to be declared the sole winner.
During the Dec. 13 runoff election, Heiser won with 760 votes, or 71.70% of the vote. Stark garnered 300 votes, or 28.30%. Along with election day votes, Heiser also maintained a lead with absentee and early votes.
“I’m feeling super thankful to have had this opportunity to run and the support I received in not just one election, but two, especially at a time when people don’t really want to participate in government,” Heiser said. “The fact that 71% of voters went out to vote for me because they believe I was the best candidate to represent them in District 1, I think that’s something I’ll never forget. It’s a big responsibility and I really look forward to the challenge of trying to do everything I can to represent people city wide, regardless of where they live or what their ideology is.”
Results will remain unofficial until canvassed and certified.
