Barry Patel will return to the South Padre Island mayor's seat after defeating incumbent Patrick McNulty in the Nov. 3 election, according to unofficial results. Patel received 841 votes, or 66.48%, and McNulty received 424 votes, or 33.52%, out of 1,265 votes cast.
Patel said he decided to run for mayor again last December after hearing citizen concerns about "critical planning" and "civility on the city council." He said he felt the weight of the responsibility as soon as the results were announced.
Patel served on the city council starting in 2013 and was mayor for a time before deciding not to seek reelection in 2017. He said he had accomplished what he wanted then, including creating the 2% venue tax, the shoreline department and Tompkins Park. He said his current goals include building up ecotourism tied to the convention center expansion, securing an IMAX theater, getting more funds for the windwater sports park, addressing flooding and parking, and continuing beach and street maintenance. "I don't want to be a politician forever," he said.