Fleming defeats Simms to claim Round Rock City Council seat

Melissa Fleming defeated Alan Simms on Saturday in the race between political newcomers for the Place 3 seat on the Round Rock City Council. Meanwhile, two charter amendments were approved by wide margins.

Fleming had 1,992, votes, or 65.7%, with Simms having 1,041 votes. Kristen Stevens, a 48-year-old Realtor, ran unopposed for a second term in Place 5.

Proposition A on court judges and the Municipal Court had 2,533 votes for and 380 votes against. Proposition B, which is intended to shorten the time to have a plat approved, was winning 2,038-852.

The totals include votes from both Williamson and Travis counties. The votes will be official after being canvassed by the City Council. A swearing-in ceremony is expected to be scheduled for this month.

Fleming, 47, is a wealth advisor with Ironbridge Private Wealth, while Simms, 64, is the owner of Rio Grande Tex-Mex restaurant. Place 3 incumbent Matthew Baker did not seek a third term to the seat he has held since 2018.

"I am thrilled to win the election last night and want to express my gratitude to everyone who came out to support me, Fleming said on her campaign website Sunday. "As your newly elected city council member, I am dedicated to representing the voices and interests of the people of Round Rock. I am excited to get to work to continue to make our city that special place we all love."

During the campaign, Fleming said public safety, maintaining city infrastructure and preserving the uniqueness of the city are the biggest issues the city is facing. She said residents are also concerned about traffic and the city's water supply.

More:Meet the 2 political newcomers running for Place 3 seat on Round Rock City Council

In 2022, the city's estimated population was 124,614, with 184,993 residents in the greater Round Rock area. As of April, the city officials have estimated the population within city limits is 132,927. A 2022 report by the city projected that by 2040, the population within city limits will be 194,151 and the population in the greater Round Rock area will be 266,051.

To address residents' concerns about water supply she said there needs to be direct involvement with the community to promote water conservation. For traffic concerns, she said the city needs a comprehensive transportation plan along with a strong street maintenance program.

"Prioritizing proper planning and funding for roads and maintenance is crucial to the future of our city, Fleming said. "I will seek to attract businesses offering high-quality, well-compensated jobs, and to establish long-term strategic plans that safeguard our city's infrastructure needs."

Fleming started the Austin-Round Rock Chapter of the Cure Starts Now, or Team Brock, in honor of her son, who died of a rare, incurable type of brain cancer at the age of 7.

Simms said the major issues facing the city are those that affect the quality of life for residents, such as traffic congestion, affordability, drug abuse within the community and water conservation.

He said that if elected, his main goal would be to create a collaborative and inclusive community that supports local businesses by assisting mom-and-pop shops. He also said he wanted to work to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance transportation infrastructure.

Charter amendments

Round Rock voters also approved amendments to the city’s charter to clarify the roles and procedures of the Municipal Court and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The first proposed amendment will clarify the designation and requirements of court judges and the handling costs and fines by the Municipal Court.

In a report, the chairman of the Charter Review Commission said the change was recommended because the section’s language is vague and does not give distinctions between judges. He also said the section does not consider where costs and fines are intended to go. 

The second amendment will delete a subsection of the charter allowing city staff to have the ability to approve, conditionally approve or disapprove a plat, aligning with the Texas Local Government Code. The report said the amendment was recommended to quicken the development process.