PRINCETON, Texas — One of the fastest-growing small towns in North Texas elected a new mayor Saturday, according to unofficial results.
Eugene Escobar Jr. defeated incumbent mayor Brianna Chacon in a runoff election Saturday. Escobar Jr. received 51.3% of the vote Saturday while Chacon earned 48.8%, according to unofficial results.
"I am deeply humbled and honored to announce that I have been elected as your next mayor," Escobar Jr said in a statement posted to Facebook. "This victory belongs to all of us — the people of Princeton who believed in a vision of transparency, unity, and progress."
With its population growing from 6,900 in 2010 to 46,000 today, the city is thriving but faces challenges as it races to keep up with infrastructure demands and maintain its identity, WFAA previously reported. According to challenger Escobar, he feels the city his family has called home for more than a decade is losing that identity.
Escobar, a 33-year-old IT company owner with a young family.
Chacon got 41% of the vote in November and Escobar Jr. got 27% of the votes, sending the mayoral race into a runoff.
In a Facebook post, Chacon wrote that she is looking forward to spending more time with her family.
"I have enjoyed the last 4 years with you all," Chacon wrote. "This wasn't what I expected, but, God is so good in all things. Thanks for all the love, the memories, and the support through the years."
Both candidates emphasized the need to invest in infrastructure to support the city's growing population. The city installed a moratorium this year on new home construction until infrastructure can catch up with demand. The city has the opportunity to extend that moratorium in January, WFAA previously reported.