Tension filled the room at City Hall during a special council meeting Tuesday as the District 1 candidates cast lots to name a winner after a runoff election showed a tie — a first for Corpus Christi.
After drawing a pebble numbered “3,” incumbent City Councilman Everett Roy bested former council member Billy Lerma for the win.
During the eight-minute meeting, Mayor Paulette Guajardo explained that Roy and Lerma would roll a die to determine who would go first in drawing from a box full of numbered pebbles.
Whoever had the highest number on his pebble would be deemed the winner.
Corpus Christi City Council District 1 candidate Billy Lerma (right) tosses his numbered pebble into a bowl as Mayor Paulette Guajardo congratulates incumbent City Councilman Everett Roy for winning the casting of lots for the council seat at City Hall in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Lerma’s piece had No. 2, and Roy’s had No. 3.
After Guajardo announced Roy as the winner, Lerma shook hands with Roy and quickly exited the chambers.
Attempts to reach Lerma via phone for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Roy said that with the win, he will be able to continue his work for District 1 and the city.
“I think we have to continue to work on job creation and economic stability,” Roy said. “I’m seeing a lot of foreclosures. I’m a banker, so I watch those type of things. I’m seeing people struggling and I want to help the people in Corpus Christi be successful.”
Incumbent City Councilman Everett Roy (left) shakes hands with Billy Lerma, Roy’s opponent to represent District 1 on the Corpus Christi City Council, after the casting of lots determined that Roy won the District 1 seat at City Hall in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
An electronic recount and a manual recount showed the candidates tied with 1,916 votes.
The casting of lots was used as a tiebreaker in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
Roy will be sworn in a special ceremony, along with the other new council members, at City Hall Tuesday, Jan. 14.
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Bluesky @johnpoliva.bsky.social.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Everett Roy will remain District 1 councilman for Corpus Christi