DECISION 2026
Hutto will see a runoff in June
JASON CHLAPEK
Elections May 2 returned several incumbents, set the stage for a runoff in Hutto and sent voters to the polls to select Taylor’s first mayor by popular vote.
Here is a quick breakdown of the results:
TAYLOR
Jim Buzan will be sworn in as the new mayor of Taylor May 12.
Buzan earned 72.51% of the vote. Taylor Stubbs (22.64%) and Sandra Wolff (4.85%) also ran in the mayoral contest.
This marks the first time Taylor residents voted for the city’s chief executive. The position was previously appointed to someone on the City Council dais, but that was changed by a public referendum in May 2024.
Current Mayor Dwayne Ariola decided not to run again. Ariola, a Navy veteran and businessman, was first elected to the council in 2017 and was appointed mayor in 2024.
HUTTO
There will be a runoff June 13 in Hutto for City Council Place 1 since neither candidate got more than 50 percent of the vote. Jerrel W. Reynolds (41.97%) and Brandy McCool (24.19%) will face each other again at the ballot box. Sarosh Jafri (23.07%) and Luiz Dunham (10.77%) also ran for Place 1.
Place 4 will not need a runoff, with Corine Zepeda at 54.85% of ballots cast pulling ahead of challenger Brandon DeLeon (45.15%).
GRANGER
Two out of three Granger City Council incumbents – Mark Matoska and Ron Marx – kept their spots on the dais. Matoska and Marx earned 26.40% and 20.40% of the ballots cast, respectively, while challenger Denise Stefek will join them after earning the most votes at 33.60%.
Incumbent Lori Gick (19.60%) was not reelected.
THRALL
Proposition A on the city ballot passed with flying colors, earning 84.75% approval by the electorate. The measure called for the reauthorization of a 0.25% sales-and-use tax rate to maintain and repair city streets.
HUTTO ISD
Incumbent Felix Chavez will remain on the Hutto Independent School District’s school board after earning 28.21% of the vote in a five-person race for two seats. April Adams (28.11%) takes the other spot, fending off fellow candidates Lynn Green (19.82%), Taylor Lopez (13.93%) and Samantha Martinez (9.93%).
GRANGER ISD
The Granger Independent School District will have a new president soon. Current trustee and board president Daryl Stefek was not one of the top three vote earners in the sixperson race for three trustee seats.
Ricky Luna (22.24%) and Jen David (21.46%) were the top vote earners and will join Jason Huf (20.22%) on the school board.
In addition to Stefek (13.53%), David Tucker (17.88%) and Rosangel Rodriguez (4.68%) also ran for the seats.
THRALL ISD
Incumbent Bryan Holubec and challenger Jason Seaton were elected to the Thrall Independent School District board. Seaton earned 36.80% of the vote, while Holubec garnered 30.40%.
Other candidates included Ashley Harper (24.53%) and Joshua Seagroves (8.27%). Incumbent Wesley Grisham decided not to seek office again.
LOWER BRUSHY CREEK WCID
Two incumbents and one challenger earned spots on the Lower Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District during a three-seat, four-person race.
Incumbents Allen Ray David (27.86%) and Laine Holman (27.29%) earned the most ballots, while challenger Mitch Drummond garnered 24.26% of the vote.
Drummond is a former Taylor councilman. Mark Baudek (20.59%) also ran for a seat.
