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BASTROP — Ishmael Harris has been elected mayor of Bastrop, winning 63% of the vote in a June 7 runoff election triggered by the split decision in May.
Harris, 43, received 608 of the 967 ballots cast, defeating former Councilman Willie DeLaRosa, according to unofficial returns from Bastrop County Elections. He will serve the remainder of a one-year term left vacant by the January resignation of former Mayor Lyle Nelson.
Harris expanded on his lead from the May 3 general election, where he earned 625 votes to DeLaRosa’s 441 and candidate Ward Northcutt’s 219, but failed to surpass the 50%-plus-one threshold needed to win outright.
In the runoff, Harris’s share rose by nearly 15%, while DeLaRosa’s increased slightly to about 37%.
Harris stepped down as chair of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to run for Bastrop’s top seat. He campaigned on restoring public trust and building stronger collaboration between the city and its residents. His stated priorities include bringing a hospital to Bastrop, expanding recreation opportunities and investing in the city’s parks.
According to county officials, voter turnout in the runoff dropped more than 4% from the May contest locally. The general election saw 1,285 ballots cast out of 7,503 registered voters—a turnout of about 17%. The runoff drew 967 ballots from the same voter pool, yielding roughly 13% participation.
However, Bastrop voters remain more active than those in other parts of the county. The May election saw a countywide turnout just over 7%, with 4,080 ballots cast from 53,036 registered voters. City Council is expected to officially canvass the results at an upcoming meeting. The next gathering is scheduled for June 24—as of press time, there was nothing on the June 10 agenda regarding the election.
