Katy council canvasses May 3 election, declares Dusty Thiele mayor; five charter amendments fail

The City of Katy City Council on May 14, 2025 canvassed and declared the results of the May 3 regular city officers election and a special charter amendment election, issuing certificates of election and administering the oath of office to William H. “Dusty” Thiele, who was declared the winner of the mayoral race.

The canvass showed 2,304 total ballots cast in the May 3 election: 650 on election day, 1,642 during early voting and 12 by mail. The council recorded 1,902 votes for William H. Dusty Thiele and 289 votes for Michael Payne; the transcript did not specify undervotes or overvotes for the mayoral race.

The special charter amendment election presented five proposed amendments to the Katy Home Rule Charter; none were enacted. The council recorded the following results for each proposition (for/against/undervotes): Proposition A — 894 for, 1,337 against, 73 undervotes; Proposition B — 805 for, 1,410 against, 89 undervotes; Proposition C — 807 for, 1,393 against, 104 undervotes; Proposition D — 914 for, 1,290 against, 100 undervotes; Proposition E — 640 for, 1,571 against, 93 undervotes.

Councilmember Dan Smith moved to adopt an ordinance canvassing and declaring the election results under agenda item 4B; Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with all members voting in favor. Mayor Dusty Thiele then issued certificates of election. Judge Brashear administered the oath of office to Thiele at the dais.

During the public-comment period before the canvass, Michael Payne of 5823 Green Meadows Lane addressed the council about his campaign and election concerns. Payne congratulated Thiele on winning the mayoral race and said his own campaign ‘‘help[ed] expose a plot by the city council where they improperly placed some ... charter amendments,’’ remarks recorded in the public-comment record. Payne also said he was disappointed there was no debate in the campaign. The council did not respond to comments during the public-comment period, per the announced rules.

In brief remarks after being sworn in, Mayor Dusty Thiele thanked voters for their support and outlined his priorities for a second term, saying, “Serving this community is one of the greatest honors of my life,” and listing public safety, flood mitigation and drainage, mobility and roads, support for the historic town square and parks as areas of focus.

The special session concluded after the canvass and oath; the meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m.