LUBBOCK, Texas -
There were three municipal races in a runoff election Saturday, seating two new City Council members and a municipal judge. More than 5,700 people cast a ballot for these races.
In the District 1 runoff, Juan A. Chadis wins with more than a 25 point lead over his opponent, Frank Gutierrez.
Chadis says the biggest issue facing his district in northeast Lubbock is absentee landlords. He says there's 15,000 houses in the district and 10,000 are renter occupied.
"Let's start holding the landlords accountable for these homes," he said. "Let's beautify the neighborhoods. Unfortunately there are a lot of rental properties, they can still be beautified, the landscaping be done, there's no reason to be tall grass out there, weeds, boarded up windows, boarded up doors... That shouldn't be happening."
He's replacing Councilman Victor Hernandez, who lost a bid for mayor to Dan Pope.
In District 2, Shelia Patterson Harris wins the runoff with nearly a 20 point margin over Jared B. Hall. She says it may be her name on the campaign, but she's going to get the whole district involved.
"We're gonna work together, we're gonna get some things done, we're gonna stand, we're gonna educate, we're gonna bond, we're gonna do all of that so that the citizens of Lubbock are served and are served well," she said.
"This is the first step to making things happen in District 2," Patterson Harris continued, "and letting the rest of Lubbock know that we're a part, we're the sum of our parts, we just live in different parts of this great city, and I thank you, blessings to each of you. You'll see me comin' back to your neighborhoods to tell you thank you, so we can meet and start working together."
The daughter of former longtime District 2 Councilman T.J. Patterson, is replacing outgoing Councilman Floyd Price.
