After falling just short of the majority vote in Buda in the November general election, LaVonia Horne-Williams will head to a runoff Tuesday against Emily Jones.
Candidates needed to reach 50% plus one vote in the general election to earn a spot on the City Council, so voters will head to the polls for a second time to decide between Horne-Williams and Jones.
In the three-way race for the third at-large position on the Buda City Council, Horne-Williams led with 633 votes, or 49.11%, over Jones, who got 437 votes, or 33.87%. Virginia Jurika earned 219 votes, or 17.01%, in the Nov. 2 election.
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Horne-Williams, 51, has lived in Buda for 20 years and said she has seen how the town has changed and grown over the years. As an elected official, she hopes to bring more tax dollars to Buda; create equitable access to city amenities, with a focus on East Buda; and address the traffic congestion.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in managing teams, operations and personnel at the local, state and private industry levels. She has been active in city affairs, serving on various Buda boards and commissions, including the Charter Committee, the Buda Historic Preservation Commission and the Human Service Grant Committee. She is a member of the Buda Police Foundation Board and the Economic Development Corp., for which she is the treasurer.
Jones, 46, is the vice chair for the city’s planning and zoning commission and is a member of the Hays school district’s Gifted and Talented Advisory Council, where she has served since 2020.
She grew up in Central Texas and has lived in Buda for more than seven years. The mother of four has more than 24 years of experience in commercial and residential construction and development.
If elected, Jones said, she plans to focus on transportation, housing and the local economy. She said she will continue to improve mobility infrastructure that will address the current and future needs of the city. She also said she will work to provide housing opportunities that will benefit all household income levels. Jones is a stronger supporter of local businesses and events that help the economic health of the city and hopes to maintain and grow the historic micropolitan town.
The winner will replace Ray Bryant, who is not seeking reelection. Bryant has served in the position since November 2018.
Buda, an Austin suburb in northern Hays County, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the region. The population jumped from 2,404 in 2000 to 7,295 in 2010. By 2018, the population had more than doubled again, rising to an estimated 16,449.