WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – From leading the Jayhawks in blocked shots to leading a small town in Texas, former University of Kansas big man and 10-year NBA veteran Greg Ostertag has a new title: mayor.

Wherever Ostertag went in his basketball career, he found success. He retired having never played for a team with a losing record.

Kansas center Greg Ostertag (00) hugs teammate Adonis Jordan in the closing moments of Kansas loss to North Carolina in the semifinals of the Final Four at the Superdome, Saturday, April 3, 1993, New Orleans, La. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

Kansas center Greg Ostertag, (00) leaps from the bench during the final seconds of NCAA Midwest Regional Championship game as his Jayhawks beat top-seeded Indiana 83-77, Saturday, March 27, 1993, St. Louis, Mo. At left, on his knees, is KU top-scorer Richard Scott. The Jayhawks will advance to the Final Four in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag reacts after being knocked to the floor by the Indiana Pacers during the first quarter Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, in Salt Lake City. Ostertag scored two points and was able to blocked just two shots in the game. The Pacers beat the Jazz, 84-60. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag (00) gives teammate Karl Malone a hug during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, April 26, 2003, in Salt Lake City. Ostertag scored 22 points for a career playoff high. Malone added 20 points as the Jazz beat the Kings 107-104. (AP Photo)

Utah Jazz players Matt Harpring, Karl Malone and Andre Kirilenko congratulate Greg Ostertag, second from left, after he fed an assist to Harpring against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter Monday, Dec. 2, 2002, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz beat the Pacers 102-91. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Washington Wizards’ Antonio Daniles (6) goes to the basket against the Utah Jazz Greg Ostertag (00) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, in Washington.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Sacramento Kings center Greg Ostertag (00) drives toward the basket while being closely guarded by New Orleans Hornets center Chris Andersen (12) during the first half in New Orleans on Wednesday, De. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/ Andrew J. Cohoon)

Greg Ostertag (00) of Kansas puts a hook shot over Purdue’s Brandon Brantley (42) and Linc Darner (30) during Purdue’s 83-78 win at the NCAA Southeast regional semi-finals in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24, 1994. Also shown is Kansas’ Patrick Rickey (12). (AP Photo/Pat Murphy-Racey)

Kansas center Greg Ostertag (00) dunks for two in the first half against Colgate in the NCAA Midwest Regional first-round game at Dayton, Ohio, March 16, 1995. Kansas defeated Colgate 82-68. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Utah Jazz’ Greg Ostertag, left, is restrained by teammate Matt Harpring after he was ejected from the game by referee Derrick Stafford, right, for arguing a non-call during the opening minutes of the first half at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002. Ostertag has apologized to his Utah Jazz teammates for his blowup during Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Ostertag was fined $7,500 by the NBA on Monday and apologized to his teammates Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Washington Wizards’ Antonio Daniles (6) goes to the basket against the Utah Jazz Greg Ostertag (00) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2006, in Washington.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

He kept that streak alive last Saturday, unseating the incumbent mayor in Mt. Vernon, Texas, by 35 votes.

Life in east Texas moves a bit slower than traveling city to city in the NBA. These days, Ostertag spends his time on his boat, at his farm or substitute teaching in the small Mt. Vernon school district.

“I would run in front of a school bus for them to save one of them,” he said. “That’s how important these kids in this town is to me.”

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After living in Mt. Vernon for 11 years — where he runs multiple businesses, including real estate and a sports bar — Ostertag says he’s developed a deep connection to the community. But political office wasn’t part of the plan. In fact, he says he “hates politicians.” That changed when people around town began urging him to run.

“One thing led to another, and I talked to my wife, and she said ‘no,’ and then they kept asking, kept asking,” he said. “And I said, ‘What do you think?’ She says, ‘Are you sure?’ I said, ‘No, but here we go.’ So I put my name in.”

At one point in the campaign, his 2002 ejection from a regular-season game against Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers started circulating around town.

“They tried to use it as a negative, but it turned into a positive because when the lady posted it, she said, ‘Is this guy, you won’t run in our town?’ And everybody said, ‘Yep, that’s the one. We’ll take him,’” Ostertag said.

When he takes office Monday, he won’t be expecting a big paycheck or stepping away from his other ventures. The mayor’s position is volunteer.

Ostertag said he’s watched Mt. Vernon’s downtown grow busier in recent years. His goal is to keep that momentum going and help make the small eastern Texas town a destination.

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