Pearland picking new mayor for the first time in nearly 30 years after the 95-year-old incumbent didn’t seek reelection

PEARLAND, Texas – For the first time in nearly 30 years, Pearland is electing a new mayor.

With more than 23% of the vote in late Tuesday night, Kevin Cole, a real estate developer, is ahead in the mayoral race. Cole has 28,220 votes or 57%.

Previously, Cole served on the city council and the Pearland Planning and Zoning Commission.

His opponent Quentin Wiltz has captured 21,412 votes or 43%.

Wiltz, an oil and gas executive, previously ran against Mayor Tom Reid but lost by nearly 500 votes in 2017.

Here are the live results for this race:

Reid, who is 95 years old, announced late last year that he would be seeking reelection. He served as mayor for two different periods: first from 1978 to 1990 and then again from 1993 to 2020. Totaling more than 44 years in public service, he earned his start as a city council member.

Across those four decades, the city’s population has grown from about 6,600 residents to more than 130,000.