The deadline for candidates to file for a spot on the May 6 uniform election ballot is Friday in most jurisdictions. A list of what municipal offices are on the ballot for the state’s 100 most populous cities can be found here.
Corpus Christi: Former council member Chad Magill said he would drop out of the special election to fill the former mayor’s unexpired term. In a statement, Magill said he hoped his decision to exit the race would lessen the chances for a runoff election, which would help the city avoid added costs and get the new mayor into office faster. At least six candidates remain in the race.
Frisco: Eight-day-out campaign finance reports were due last week for the candidates in the February 18 special election for an unexpired city council term. The reports cover contributions received and expenditures made between January 18 and February 9. Former council member John Keating, who ran unsuccessfully for HD33 in 2016, reported just over $5K in contributions and $12K in expenditures. He reported having just over $5K on hand. He received a $2.5K contribution from Frisco medical imaging CEO James Webb, who also contributed $5K toward his House campaign. For the period, Keating outraised all eight of his opponents combined and outspent all but Brandon Burden, who spend just over $8K. Keating was the only candidate to report having more than $1K on hand.
Hearne: For the second time in two years, a divided Hearne City Council has been unable to call an election for May 6 due to a recall petition against one of the council members. The object of that petition, council member Rodrick Jackson, moved to set a May 6 election date but did not include his own recall election as part of the motion. Jackson, who maintains that the recall petition was circulated illegally and is invalid, told colleagues he excluded the recall election because the Robertson Co. County Judge would handle the recall election. Despite this assurance, three council members – Mayor Ruben Gomez and council members Emmett Aguirre and Martha Castilleja – voted against the motion, resulting in a 3-3 tie vote. Aguirre and Gomez are up for re-election in May.
The interim city manager told the council that slightly more than the number of signatures required to validate the petition had been verified. When it was first filed in November, Jackson said he would eventually resign, but he has remained in office.
Two years ago, a recall petition against four-term council member Maxine Vaughn also led to a deadlocked city council vote on setting an election. A state appeals judge ordered the council to meet without Vaughn and set the election.
Hidalgo: The city council ordered a May 6 “do-over” election for a city council seat won by incumbent Oziel Trevino by six votes in November. His opponent, Gilbert Perez, filed a lawsuit alleging illegal ballot-by-mail votes, and a judge agreed that a new election was required. Perez was represented by Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party.
Temple: Two-term council member Jerri Gauntt will not be seeking re-election in May. Gauntt is one of four at-large council members, all of whom are on the ballot this year. The other three – Dan Kirkley, David Leigh and Craig Pearson – have already filed for re-election.
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