Voters kept Pete Kamp and Joe Mulroy on the Denton City Council on Saturday and elected escrow officer Rudy Moreno in a special election in District 2.

Joe Mulroy

Kamp, 55, a sales businesswoman, overcame business owner Mike Sutton, 54, in a race to succeed retiring at-large District 5 council member Bob Montgomery. Kamp defeated Sutton by more than 1,000 votes, despite questions about whether her jump from District 2, where she’s served for five years, violated the city’s term limits.

“I think it definitively validates my position [on term limits],” Kamp said.

Sutton, meanwhile, said he didn’t consider the term limits issue settled.

Pete Kamp

“I will continue to pursue the term limit issue over the next couple months,” he said.

The city charter prevents council members from being elected to more than three consecutive two-year terms. But city attorneys say term limits do not carry over to council members who run for a different seat, including mayor, or sit out a term.

A group of five residents, including Sutton, sued the city secretary in April to keep Kamp, Mayor Perry McNeill and mayoral candidate Mark Burroughs off the ballot for alleged term-limit violations.

Rudy Moreno

Sutton also filed a separate action in a Fort Worth appeals court to disqualify Kamp over term limits. In both cases, judges allowed the candidates to remain on the ballot.

Kamp said she ran again to continue her work on regional transportation issues and see the city’s proposed new animal shelter become a reality.

“I am not surprised at the results,” she said. “I think that the citizens paid attention. I think that the [candidate] forums were indicative of my experience and my relationship in the community and my opponent’s lack of relationship with the community.”

Sutton, who owns Voyagers Dream near Fry Street, said that he was pleased with the results overall.

“I think it was a great election and appreciate that my supporters came out,” he said. “It shows that there’s definitely a need for a change in the community.”

In the race to succeed Kamp in District 2, Moreno, 61, squeezed out a win over real estate businessman John Ryan, 43, in a race separated by 35 votes. Moreno will serve the remaining year of Kamp’s term and said he plans to seek a full term in 2009.

Moreno attributed the win to his years of community service. He campaigned on bringing his background, including six years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, to help the city deal with growth and revise its development code and long-term plan.

“I am a mainstay in this community,” Moreno said. “I’ve got a lot of great supporters and a lot of great friends, and I just want to continue that work as I go forward.”

Ryan, who lost to Kamp in the 2007 District 2 race, could not be reached for comment.

In at-large District 6, Mulroy, 58, a businessman, defeated in­surance salesman Jerry Mohel­nitzky, 65, to secure a third term.

“I just have a proven track record in the community, a long-term relationship with the community with involvement and positive results,” Mulroy said, explaining his victory.

Mulroy ran on a platform of continuing his efforts to revamp the city’s property maintenance code, protect neighborhoods and improve overall quality of life. He praised Mohelnitzky for running a “positive” campaign.

“Jerry has a lot to contribute to the community, and I hope he continues to do so,” Mulroy said.

Mohelnitzky’s platform included open government, cooperation with Denton’s school district and universities, sound planning and high-quality economic development.

“Joe and I both ran a great campaign, but his advertising and other materials got him the votes,” Mohelnitzky said. “I wish him the best.”

Twenty-one mail-in ballots and at least two provisional ballots have not been counted, said City Secretary Jennifer Walters.

Staff writer Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe contributed to this report.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com .

Mayor

Place 2

Place 5 (at large)

Place 6 (at large)