Leffingwell, McCracken face runoff

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lee Leffingwell and Brewster McCracken will head into a runoff for Austin mayor after neither got the majority of votes on saturday night.

"Obviously, I'm very happy with the results and grateful to the voters of austin for placing this confidence in me," Leffingwell said after winning some 47 percent of the vote. "i'm going to work as hard as I can to justify that confidence."

Lee Leffingwell holds the lead in the race for Austin Mayor, but he does not have enough votes to win the election outright.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Leffingwell has 47 percent of the vote. McCracken is next with 27 percent. Carole Keeton Strayhorn is third with 21percent. Since Leffingwell was not able to gain more than 50 percent of the vote, the race for mayor will now be decided in a June 13 runoff election against McCracken.

Chris Riley is the winner of the race for the unexpired Place 1 Council seat.  Riley had 65 percent of the vote to defeat Perla Cavazos.

"I didn't really know what to expect - There was so much unpredictability to it, and I'm really please with the way it turned out," Riley said. "Tonight I'm going to have a few more beers, relax with friends, sleep in tomorrow ... and then get ready to dive into it next week."

Voters gave solid support to current Austin City Council members running for re-election. Mike Martinez took 85 percent of the early vote in his bid to keep his Place 2 seat, holding off a challenge from Jose Quintero. Incumbent Place 6 council member Sheryl Cole has a strong lead over challenger Samuel Osemene, earning 84 percent of the early vote.

Council member Bill Spelman ran unopposed for the Place 5 seat.

McCracken kept his game face on when he arrived at Cuatro's saying advancing campaign issues is far more important than winning.

He did say he is looking for a good debate in the runoff. With such a high turnout for Leffingwell, McCracken said he was "surprised," but still confident.

"They have not with all their strength been able to crest 50 percent," said McCracken. "But I recognize I'm not the candidate of the political machine. So it's a challenge."

"Voters will just have to decide whether they want a political machine running this city, with a message of hunkering down," said McCracken. "Or if they want Austin to move forward in tomorrow's economy and do it now."

More than 200 guests packed into Hills Café’s beer garden to support Mayoral candidate Lee Leffingwell Saturday night.

The 69 year old two-term city councilman was met by a fellow council member, a band and excited crowd.

"I was really glad he was running for mayor because we need a strong candidate like Lee," said Peggy Vasquez, Leffingwell supporter.

Leffingwell is admittedly exhausted, after visiting several polling locations Saturday in an effort to sway last minute voters.

"We've made 10 calls in the last two days," said Leffingwell.

Leffingwell has been endorsed by public safety groups and came out with a stronger lead than anticipated, with the early voting totals showing he had 47% of the vote.

"It's been a grassroots effort from the get go and I am happy with the results but we’ll be hitting the campaign trail again tomorrow," said Leffingwell.

Leffingwell will be taking part in a runoff election June 13th against Brewster McCracken.

Strayhorn conceded around 9:20 p.m. with the following statement:

“I first want to congratulate Council Member Leffingwell and Council Member McCracken for a race well run. It doesn’t get better than having two granddaughters on either side of you. And I want to thank all of my family, my friends, volunteers, supporters, voters, Austinites all – It’s been a great run. This city has given me nothing but a lifetime of sheer joy and I will continue to give back my lifetime of experience in every possible positive way that I can. My grandmothers lived healthy into their 90s. I’m just getting started, but I tell you what, I’ve got a granddaughter here who will be eligible to run for mayor in four years and I’ve got another one in five years and there are four more after that. I’ve got an 8-week old grandson. This race is about the future. This city has a tremendously bright future and I feel nothing but appreciation and love…this city has great diversity, a great future and I am looking forward with great gusto to participate in it in every possible way. Thank you so much.”
 

Austin registered voters will be able to vote in the runoff election whether or not they voted in this election.

Jackie Vega, Blair Shiff, Carla Castano, Matt Flener, John Thomas, Karen Brooks and Erin Cargile contributed to this report.