Abilene Mayoral Race Headed to Runoff

5/9/2017 (Permalink)

Abilene mayoral hopefuls Robert Briley, Richard Kennedy and Anthony Williams

ABILENE, Texas -- Abilene City Council member Anthony Williams and ex-councilman Robert Briley are heading to a runoff after neither garnered 50 percent of the vote in Saturday's election for mayor.

Williams garnered 5,289 votes (48 percent) compared to Briley's 5,056 votes (46 percent), according to final but unofficial vote totals. 180 House leader Richard Kennedy captured 660 votes (6 percent).

The Abilene City Council will vote on May 15 to decide when the runoff election will be held. Taylor County Elections Administrator Freda Ragan said the tentative date for the runoff is June 17.

Briley said Williams had an advantage by being mayor pro tem, but added that the Church of Christ played a important role in Saturday's outcome.

"It was the last precinct again. That’s a memory from Norm [Archibald] because Norm was Church of Christ and then also Anthony was Church of Christ, so they’re going to have a lot of votes," Briley told KTXS.

Meanwhile, Williams said it was his vision for Abilene that earned him the edge over Briley and that he would carry it forward to the runoff election. 

Briley and Williams are vying to replace retiring Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald. Archibald has been mayor for 13 years.

Thanks to Doug Myers & Veronica Soto/KTXS News