Robertson was defeated by Jodey Arrington, a former vice chancellor of Texas Tech University and an official in the administration of former U.S. President George W. Bush.
In third place was Michael Bob Starr, the former commander of Dyess Air Force Base who led handily in Abilene and finished with 22,256 votes (21.4 percent).
[2][3] In the first phase of the campaign, Robertson had questioned Starr’s participation in the LGBT "Fun Run" at Dyess Air Force Base.
[5] In the 2012 Lubbock mayoral election, a non-partisan contest under Texas law,[6] Robertson unseated Tom Martin by 30 percentage points[7]—a result thought to be related to voter perceptions that municipal "taxes" had increased in the form of fees.
[9] Shortly after inauguration Robertson announced his support for building an electricity plant powered by natural gas and for changes in the structure of water fees to emphasize conservation.