Ishmael Harris and Wille DeLaRosa are once again knocking on doors trying to convince Bastrop’s voters that they are the right person to be mayor.
On May 3, Harris won nearly 49% of the vote in a three-way race, coming just short of winning outright and avoiding a runoff. DeLaRosa finished second and won a spot in the runoff by earning 34% of the vote. Ward Northcutt placed third with 17% of the 1,285 votes cast.
Whoever wins on June 7 will make city history. Harris could become Bastrop’s first Black mayor and DeLaRosa would be its first Latino leader since the City Council started meeting in 1837, said city historian Ken Kesselus.
The winner will serve one year to finish the term of former Mayor Lyle Nelson, who resigned in January following tensions created by an investigation into alleged financial mismanagement of the city’s tourism board. Third-party investigators could not prove that Nelson knew of any misused funds.
Harris said he was not frustrated about almost winning the May 3 race.
“I just think it was pretty good I got so close to 50%,” he said.
More: Northcutt, Harris, DeLaRosa vying to be Bastrop’s next mayor in May 3 election
Both candidates said they are focusing on spreading their message and encouraging residents to take the time to vote. In the May election, 1,285 of Bastrop’s 53,000 registered voters cast ballots in the special mayor’s race.
It’s difficult, DeLaRosa said, to get voters to show up for a runoff election.
“I’m working very hard to get voters out by visiting neighborhoods, talking to people in their driveways, in their yards, at the grocery store, at restaurants and anywhere I see them,” he said.
Harris said he has hosted meet-and-greet events and is planning to visit neighborhoods to connect with residents.
“I’ve also had more people reach out to me with support since the time of the runoff announcement,” he said. “It seems like a different demographic. The older population are contacting me.”
Northcutt did not respond to a request for comment about whether he is endorsing anyone in the runoff.
DeLaRosa, 69, has served 27 years on the Bastrop City Council and and spent nine years working for the city’s economic development corporation. He is a retired U.S. Postal Service carrier.
Harris, 43, has served 1½ years on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and has worked for 21 years for the city of Austin’s water department, where he is a supervisor at a wastewater treatment plant. He ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 2019.
DeLaRosa points to experience
DeLaRosa said he is the best candidate because of his experience on the City Council.
“Nobody in this race understands the budget process better than I do,” he said.
Willie DeLaRosa is seeking the Bastrop mayor’s office in the runoff election on June 7.
As a member of the city’s economic development corporation, he said he helped bring Buc-ee’s to town. DeLaRosa also said he can bring needed stability to the council.
“I think the council was in a disruptive mode for a year because of what was going on with the former mayor,” he said. “It just broke apart the council. I think we have good council members. I know all four of them very well and I can sit down and visit with each one of them and understand where we need to go and how to get there.”
More: Bastrop Mayor Lyle Nelson resigns ahead of possible move to hold recall election
DeLaRosa said his goals, if elected, include attracting development that would “not only protect our neighborhoods, but historic areas and the overall quality of our life.” He also wants to reduce traffic congestion in a central area of the city, bounded by Texas 304, Blakey Road, FM 969 and the Texas 71 frontage road.
“It’s the worst area in town,” he said.
DeLaRosa said public safety also is an important priority for him.
“My focus is making sure seniors and kids are safe in our community,” he said.
If he wins the election, DeLaRosa said he doesn’t plan to run again for mayor.
Harris touts relationships
Harris said if he wins, he does plan to run again for a full three-year term.
“I feel that I’m the right person for the job due to my lifelong relationships that I’ve developed with the people of Bastrop by growing up here, coaching here and living here,” said Harris.
Harris said his experience coaching young people in basketball, football, soccer, and softball, along with his achievements on the zoning commission, will serve him well in leading the city.
“There’s a lot of things I’ve had my hand in including developing (Americans with Disabilities) access at Delgado Park,” he said.
Ishmael Harris is competing to be Bastrop’s mayor in a runoff election on June 7.
His primary goals, if elected, include “reestablishing trust between the citizens, the City Council and the mayor,” he said. Harris also wants to address traffic congestion, upgrade city parks and open a new recreation center for the city.
The current recreation center doesn’t have basketball courts, a swimming pool, or a gym with workout equipment, he said. If pending legislation passes in the Texas Legislature, the city could secure funding for a new convention center and repurpose the current one as a recreation center, Harris said.
He also hopes to bring a larger hospital to Bastrop.
“The city has a smaller hospital, but you can’t have major surgeries there,” he said. The city has Ascension Seton Health Center Bastrop that provides emergency, primary and specialty care and rehab services.
Early voting starts May 27 and ends June 3. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 7.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Harris, DeLaRosa to face off in Bastrop’s mayoral runoff on June 7