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For the first time in 20 years, Groves has a new mayor.

Chris Borne beat fellow councilmember Karen Theis in the bid to replace outgoing mayor Brad Bailey.

Borne came in with 59.23% of the ballots cast or 3,283 votes. Theis garnered 40.77% of the ballots cast or 2,260 votes.

Borne called it a very humbling experience to have the overall support of the city, adding his team ran a clean race and it came down to his name at the end.

He is the first new mayor in the city in two decades.

“When Brad decided to walk away we knew it would open it for somebody new. It was my time and I put my name in,” Borne said. “We are very fortunate the turnout was what it was. We had record numbers. I appreciate everything that’s been done for me.”

Now he’s ready to go to work, he said, adding he is looking forward to stepping into his new role as mayor.

Now that he won the mayor’s race, someone will be appointed to complete his unexpired term.

Had Borne lost, he would have maintained his Ward 1 seat because his term is not up. He was appointed to the unexpired term of the Ward 1 seat in 2018 with the exit of then councilmember Cross Coburn. He then won the seat in 2019.

Borne is an electrician and works for an affiliate of Superior Energy Inc. and also owns his own business in Groves.

He and his wife Jessica have two daughters, ages 13 and 17.

Groves businessman wins city council seat

Businessman Paul Oliver won the Ward 2 seat on the Groves city council Tuesday.

The seat was vacated by Chris Borne, who was elected the new Mayor of Groves Tuesday night.

Oliver, 62, defeated challenger Jeremy Young in a closely contested race that was separated by 231 votes. Oliver, who has lived in the ward for 42 years, outgained his challenger 2,414 (52.51 percent)-2,183 (47.49 percent).

Oliver owns Advanced Fiberglass in Groves.