Pearland's first Democratic mayor in decades: 'People see me for who I am, not for the party'
A Brazoria County constable said he would "go through the list of nonvoters" in a now-deleted social media comment.
PEARLAND, Texas (KTRK) -- Pearland's new mayor, Quentin Wiltz, won a close election on Saturday, but his victory has sparked heated debate on social media.
Wiltz said he knows there is a divide in Pearland, but added it's a chasm he hopes to bridge when he becomes the city's next mayor.
He recognized the historic nature of his win: he will be Pearland's first Black mayor and the first Democrat in decades.
"This election was important because the mayor's race is at large. So every person who showed up mattered," Wiltz told ABC13. "My message hasn't changed. It's always, will, and continues to be about the people. The people that I serve, the people that I know, the people that I meet. Because that's what I think public office is about."
Wiltz won the election by 263 votes out of 11,743 cast. He is hopeful about the growing city's future despite its infrastructure and budget challenges, and he wants to hear from residents.
"You matter and your input matters," he said. "And you mean something, and you should be included in this process because this is your city. "
However, there is certainly a political divide in Pearland...much as there is across the country.
On a popular Facebook page, people posted comments on Wiltz's election.
This is a very dark and sad day for the city of Pearland. It's a good thing that he really has no power to wield other than a figurehead, but I'm sure he'll try to burn the city down.comment on social media
Pearland will be fine. Quentin is a good guy. Pray for wisdom for him.comment on social media
Congratulations to all those who don't like it. Moving is an option, you know!comment on social media
It's a bad day for Pearland. Expect corruption and decline in the quality of life in Pearland.comment on social media
Among those posting, Precinct 3 Constable Buck Stevens, who wrote: "I will be going through the list of nonvoters to see who really doesn't care how our communities move forward."
After backlash, Stevens told ABC13 he posted as a citizen, not as an elected official. He clarified in a follow-up post that he had used the wrong words.
The posts have been removed, but in a statement to ABC13, Stevens wrote:
"As a citizen, I exercised my First Amendment right with free speech about my opinion related to the lack of engagement of voters. My sincerest intent was to understand if there is a way to get more voters out to the polls, by using public data, nothing more. The post had nothing to do with, and I would never include or jeopardize my office, my official position, or Brazoria County in any way."
Wiltz said he is aware of the online comments but has not read them, adding that he wants to move past them and help govern.
"People see me for who I am, not for the party," Wiltz said. "And if you expand that across Texas, I think you'll find that Texans believe that everywhere. We are who we are in our communities. We exist outside of parties. The parties are just a platform for us. "
Wiltz takes office next week.
