Commerce council certifies mayoral election results and administers oath to Teddy Riel

The City Council of the City of Commerce, Texas, at a special meeting called at 5:30 p.m. canvassed the results of the May 3 general election and administered the oath of office to Teddy Riel, who will serve a three-year mayoral term from May 2025 through May 2028.

Assistant City Manager for Community Services Miss Jacobson presented the canvass report and the resolution declaring the election results. She told the council that during early voting (April 22–29) there were 63 votes cast for candidate Teddy Reel and 22 for Coy Smith, and that on election day (May 3) there were 94 votes for Reel and 20 for Smith. Jacobson said, "This totaled between election day and early voting, 257 votes for mayor Teddy Reel and 42 votes for mister Coy Smith." She also noted that provisional ballots may be cured at the county within eight days and added that "even if they all voted in favor of the candidate that lost the election, it still wouldn't change the results of the election."

A councilmember moved to accept the resolution canvassing the returns and declaring the results; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The council then issued the certificate of election and Miss Jacobson administered the oath of office. Teddy Riel publicly repeated the oath, beginning, "I, Teddy Riel, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of mayor of the City of Commerce, of the state of Texas..."

The council did not direct further action on the canvass report. No additional vote counts or provisional-vote cures were reported at the meeting; Jacobson stated the provisional-vote window remained open but that outstanding provisional ballots would not alter the declared outcome.

The meeting moved on after the oath; the council adjourned the special meeting and prepared to begin its workshop session.