Former NBA player Greg Ostertag, who spent 11 seasons in the league with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings, is now the mayor of Mount Vernon, Texas.

The former University of Kansas standout was sworn in as mayor on Monday following his election victory earlier this month.

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Ostertag moved to Mount Vernon over a decade ago. Now, he works as a real estate agent, substitutes in the school system, and operates Tag’s, a restaurant in downtown Mount Vernon.

An animal lover, he has a farm outside the city, with a zebra and two camels named Harold and Norman.

Ostertag is looking to bring some festivities back to the square and wants to let folks know what’s happening in Mount Vernon.

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“I don’t feel like I’m running as a politician; I feel like I’m running as a resident of the town, of a town that’s accepted my wife and I as part of this town, and wanting to see its continued success to be a destination town,” added Ostertag.

“This town has come a long way in 10 years, and I think it could still get better,” Ostertag added.

The former 1st Round NBA Draft selection won the election over the incumbent by a razor-thin margin.

Ostertag defeated Brad Hyman 245-210 to lead the town of about 2,500 residents, which is about 100 miles northeast of Dallas.

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“Taking that momentum and running with it and just making it a kind of a destination town and getting the people back involved and wanting to and believing in the town again,” Ostertag said about his big plans for the tiny town.

He seemingly had few qualms about the campaign or entering politics, after carving out a career in the paint where he battled legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal.

“I’ve been pat on the back one day and told I was terrible the next day for the last 20 years,” Ostertag said. “So I was not affected by, you know, whether or not I won it all.”

 

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