The fifth time was finally the charm for Derek Townsend. The veteran Tomball city council candidate had run four previous times unsuccessfully, but this year finally broke through with a victory over incumbent Mary Harvey for the Position 4 seat.

“I think the city voters want a change,” Townsend said. “They’re ready for the city to keep them informed and let them have a voice in the decisions that are made in this city.”

Townsend narrowly defeated Harvey, garnering 51 percent of the vote, or 456 votes to Harvey’s 49 percent, or 422.

“We knew we  were in a dogfight from the beginning, and we stayed on the high road,” Townsend said.

After the election results were tabulated, Townsend received a congratulatory phone call from both Harvey and Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan.

“Mary called me about 8:30 p.m. and she congratulated me on the win and said she was available and was willing (to help),” Townsend said. “I told her she is a voice of opportunity we need to listen to.”

Townsend also said that there were no ill feelings toward his opponent throughout his campaign.

“There was nothing ever personal,” he said. “I consider Mary a friend.”

Townsend had to pull off a come-from-behind victory on Election Day after early voting put him slightly behind Harvey.

At the conclusion of early voting, Harvey held a 278-271 vote lead.

Townsend more than made up for that on Election Day, when he outpaced Harvey 185-144.

The race for Position 2 is still yet to be decided after none of the candidates earned more than 50 percent of the vote. Incumbent Roy Lazenby picked up 397 votes, or 45 percent, while challengers Mark Stoll earned 39 percent or 346 votes, and Barbara Tague received 132 votes, or 15 percent.

A June 13 run-off is scheduled between Lazenby and Stoll.

Of the 5,365 registered voters in the City of Tomball, 887 cast ballots, a turnout of 16.5 percent. That number is up from 14.9 percent in last year’s city council election.

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