Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell Won't Run For Re-Election

CEDAR PARK, TX — Mayor Matt Powell announced Wednesday he won't seek re-election in May, according to a published report.

At times emotional, Powell made the surprise announcement at the end of his annual "state of the city" speech at the HEB Center Wednesday evening, the Hill Country News reported.

“It’s with a lot of mixed emotions and a tremendous amount of gratitude in my heart for the citizens of the city that I’m announcing this evening that I don’t intend to stand for re-election for this year,” Powell said, as quoted by the newspaper. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I know within our city there are plenty of people who will step forward for service.”

Powell was first elected to Cedar Park City Council Place One in 2005 before being elected mayor in 2012, ane twice being re-elected. In that time, he's had a voice in a number of milestone economic development projects, from the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center to the HEB Center at Cedar Park.

“When I first started running for office I would often get asked, ‘If you could bring anything to town what would it be?’ ” the newspaper quoted Powell as saying. “It would be a hospital, Chick-Fil-A and Costco. Folks, we got all three.”

As his stature grew, so too did the city in population — from 32,000 residents when he first became a councilman to 75,000 today — Powell noted in his speech.

“Our city has fundamentally changed,” he said. “These are the golden years. This is where we’re going to make and lay our roots.”

It's unclear why Powell opted no to run for another term. Contenders for the post will be known Jan. 17 when the candidate filing period begins, if not sooner.

>>> Read the full story at Hill Country News

Photo of Mayor Matt Powell via Cedar Park municipal page