Denton City Council certifies June 13 runoff results; Stevens elected mayor pro tem

Denton City Council on June 23 unanimously adopted an ordinance canvassing the June 13 municipal runoff and declaring the results, confirming George Michael Ferry Jr. as councilmember for Place 5 and Chris Watts as mayor (Place 7).

Christy Fogel, the city’s chief of staff and interim city secretary, told the council the official returns provided by Denton County Elections Administration showed Ferry received 50.39% of the vote in Place 5 and Watts received 50.17% in Place 7. Staff recommended adoption of the draft ordinance (Ordinance ID 2600792) to make the results official. "With that, staff recommends adoption of the draft ordinance for the runoff election held on Saturday, 06/13/2026," Fogel said.

Councilmember Brandon Chase McGee moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilmember Nick Stevens seconded. The motion passed by a recorded voice vote of 7–0.

Votes at a glance:
• Ordinance ID 2600792 (canvass of runoff returns, 06/13/2026) — mover: Brandon Chase McGee; second: Nick Stevens; vote: 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved.
• Election of mayor pro tem (Item ID 26-0791) — nominations included Nick Stevens and Joe Holland; council conducted a voice/hand vote and Mayor Chris Watts recorded five raised hands in favor of Stevens, which the mayor recorded as a majority and declared Nick Stevens elected mayor pro tem.

The council completed the formal canvass and the internal leadership selection in the same meeting; the newly elected members took oaths later in the session. The ordinance adopting the canvass appears on the official record as Ordinance ID 2600792.