Annette Sponseller and Andy Eis are running for Place 4 on the Leander City Council in the February 7 special election.

The details:  Mayor pro tem Na’Cole Thompson, who represents Place 4, is stepping down to run for mayor. The winner will hold the position for the remainder of the current term, which ends in 2027.

Community Impact asked both candidates about their campaigns and priorities.

CI: What makes you uniquely qualified to serve on the Leander City Council?

Sponseller: Leander has been my home for the past 15 years, and I’ve had the privilege of serving our community in leadership roles. My service on the Planning & Zoning, Charter Review, and Ethics Commissions has given me hands-on experience turning discussion into real outcomes that strengthen Leander.

Eis: I am a trusted leader with over 20 years of engineering and business experience managing growth, budgets, and cross-functional teams. As a parent of young children, baseball coach, and Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairperson, I understand how to listen and how city decisions affect families, businesses, and community outcomes.

Leander wellness business True Test has been renamed Vital Society.

What's new? Vital Society co-owner Cara Parsons confirmed the name change and said everything else about the business is remaining the same.

What they offer: Vital Society offers treatment plans for a variety of health and wellness concerns, including hormone replacement therapy, IV vitamin infusions and weight loss management.

Hormone therapy plans are available through a monthly membership. Other services are paid for individually. The business offers free consultations, which begin with blood work before discussing treatment plans.

Check out the top trending stories in the Austin metro Jan. 5-8. 
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5. Construction on a new Chipotle Mexican Grill expected to begin in Leander this year
6. Mercado Libertad now open in Liberty Hill

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will apply for a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to purchase a swift water rescue boat.

The details: The $35,519 grant would cover the full cost of the inflatable boat, accessories and the trailer for the swift water rescue team to use during flash flood emergencies, according to county documents.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation provides grants to purchase public safety equipment, training and education, and is funded in part by sales at Firehouse Subs restaurants. There is no match required from the county.

Some context: The sheriff’s office owns one boat for the swift water rescue team. The additional rescue boat will ensure there is always at least one operational boat available to the sheriff’s office, according to county documents.