Waco voters Saturday promoted Councilman Jim Bush to mayor, a seat he won with 72 percent of the vote.

Bush, 67, a commercial builder, beat Addis McNamara, an environmental engineer who stressed economic development in his campaign. Bush received 3,674 votes to McNamara’s 1,451.

“I am ecstatic,” Bush said Saturday night. “I never dreamed there would be those kind of numbers. I’m overwhelmed by the support and the confidence that Waco has placed in me.”

Jim Bush gets a hug from his wife, Marty, after receiving the early voting results in the mayor’s race.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

Bush said he would carry on the tradition of Mayor Virginia DuPuy, who is stepping down because of term limits.

He said he wants to see community planning efforts, such as the Community Visioning, Greater Downtown Plan and Greater Waco Community Education Alliance, come to fruition.

“I think it’s very important we keep the momentum going for our city and breaking new ground,” he said.

Bush has spent five years representing the sprawling District 5, which includes West Waco, China Spring and the South Bosque area.

Bush will leave that seat vacant when he is sworn in May 18.

The council will have to appoint an interim council member to fill out the remaining year of his term.

He said he expects the council to take applications and interview candidates quickly.

McNamara, 59, owner of Brazos Environmental, was not available for comment.

Bush said he is fortunate to preside over a council that works well together. He said in the short term he hopes the council can step up police staffing to allay the public’s concern about crime.

Environmental engineer Addis McNamara received 28 percent of the vote.

“One of my main focuses was to increase public safety,” he said. “Not that we’re not doing a good job there, but we can do better. I think the pendulum is swinging in that direction.”

Bush owns Bush Construction Consultants, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also were Waco builders.

He is a member of numerous civic and city boards and is on the National League of Cities’ economic development board.

He and his wife, Marty, have two adult children and eight grandchildren.

jbsmith@wacotrib.com

757-5752

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