Incumbent Wilbert Austin won the District 1 Waco City Council seat by a 2-1 margin Saturday, fending off a challenge from newcomer Carol Dugat.

Austin won 446 votes to Dugat’s 229, claiming 66 percent of the 675 votes cast.

City council incumbent Wilbert Austin won two thirds of the vote, fending off a challenge from newcomer Carol Dugat.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald

Austin celebrated his victory Saturday night at a watch party at the downtown Marriott Courtyard. He said Saturday’s victory was a vote of confidence by the district residents.

“People were really satisfied with what I had done,” he said. “One thing people were proud of is that we were able to get our streets clean so people can walk down the streets and not be mugged.”

Austin, 68, pastor of a small Moody church, has served two two-year terms on the council, representing East Waco, far South Waco, Texas State Technical College and the Cameron Park area.

Dugat, 58, a Dwyer Group employee and East Waco native, campaigned on her vision to transform East Waco with Elm Street redevelopment and a job training center.

She is a former local news anchor and recently hosted a Tribune-Herald blog about East Waco. Dugat was not available for comment Saturday night.

In other election news, District 3 Councilman Randy Riggs won re-election in his unopposed race.

jbsmith@wacotrib.com

757-5752

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