Universal City council formally canvasses May 13 election, swears in reelected members; Ashton Bowman declines seat, vacancy to be formalized May 20

Universal City Council met in a special session May 13 to canvass the city’s election results, swear in reelected council members and elect a mayor pro tem.

The council voted to approve a resolution canvassing the May 13 general election and declaring the successful candidates elected. Council members cast recorded “aye” votes during the roll call; the motion carried. The council then administered the oath of office to the reelected members.

The action followed the city’s receipt of a letter from former Council member Ashton Bowman declining the office to which she had been elected. According to remarks on the record, the letter was tendered to the city clerk on May 8, creating a vacancy effective that date under the Texas Elections Code; the council said that vacancy will be formalized by resolution at its next regular meeting on May 20.

Shortly after the swearing-in, the council took up the election of a mayor pro tem for a one-year term.…