In some configurations, the method of operating a system with dynamic wireless network topology with reduced spectrum flooding involve scanning with a first device in mesh network for beacon packets from other devices in the mesh network during a random back off period. In response to the first device not receiving a beacon packet from the other devices during the random back off period, the first device initiates an election protocol by sending an election protocol packet with its unique election protocol identifier to the other devices. In response to receiving a beacon packet from a second device, the first device stores the unique node identifier, assigns the second device as a leader node device, retransmits the unique node identifier of the second device and leader node information in a protocol packet. A command packet is communicated through the mesh network by way of at least one leader node device.