Voters in the City of Katy’s Ward A have chosen Paula Taylor, a teacher at Katy High School, to represent them on city council. Taylor won the seat in a January 31 special election held to choose a replacement for Councilmember Dan Smith, who has resigned in order to run for Waller County Precinct 4 Commissioner.

Taylor captured 71.01 percent (245 votes) of the 345 votes cast, while her opponent, long-time Katy resident Cara Bonin, received 28.99 percent (100 votes). Taylor led in early voting with 78.68 percent of the votes (107), ahead of 29 votes, or 21.32 percent cast for Bonin. Election day votes totaled 138 (66.03 percent) for Taylor and 71 (33.7 percent) for Bonin. With only one race on the ballot, the city did use voting machines in the election, instead choosing old-fashioned paper ballots, Taylor said in a January 17 post on Facebook, as she urged residents to turn out to vote.

Taylor thanked her family, friends and supporters in a February 1 post on Facebook, adding “My prayer is that a year from now those who voted for me will be pleased with my work and representation of Ward A on council, and that those who voted for my opponent will feel heard and represented as well.”

Cara Bonin also released a statement on Facebook “We still have a chance to make a difference in May when we show up to vote for the other Ward A seat and the at large seat on Katy City Council,” said Bonin in a February 1 post. “We must hold fast and brave it out until the next mayor’s race. With diligence we will get the leadership we deserve.”

The Katy Times was unable to confirm an official swearing in date for Taylor; however, the next meeting of City Council is scheduled for February 9 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Avenue C in Katy.