Abilene City Council Certifies May 2 Election, Sets June 13 Runoff, Swears In Hurt and Patterson

On Tuesday, Abilene’s city council convened a special called meeting at city hall to certify the May 2 general election results. The council reviewed the vote totals for all contested seats and confirmed the outcome before a small audience of staff and observers. The meeting was called after the county elections office completed the official canvass. This step is required under Texas law before any winning candidate can take office.

The council officially certified the election results, affirming the vote counts for mayor, council places, and other municipal contests. Certification clears the way for the issuance of certificates of election to the victorious candidates. Each certificate lists the candidate’s name, the office won, and the term dates. No discrepancies were reported during the canvass.

Because no candidate received a majority in the Place 4 race, the council scheduled a runoff election for June 13. The runoff will pit the two leading vote‑getters against each other to determine who fills the seat. Setting the date now allows candidates to resume campaigning and voters to plan their participation.

During the same meeting, Mayor Weldon Hurt and Councilmember Jay Patterson each received their certificate of election and took the oath of office. The oath commits them to uphold the city charter, state statutes, and the public interest. Their swearing‑in marks the beginning of their new terms, which run until the next regular election.

The certification finalizes the municipal vote while the runoff date clarifies the next electoral step for Place 4. Voters can expect increased outreach from the two runoff candidates in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the newly sworn‑in officials will begin addressing agenda items such as budget planning and infrastructure projects. The council is also scheduled to review a proposed street‑maintenance budget at its next regular meeting.

What to watch next: how the Place 4 runoff shapes the council’s balance of power and whether any further legal challenges arise before June 13.