Pasadena: The city must revert to a system of eight single-member districts for the May election, ruled the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, upholding a lower court decision issued in January. In that decision, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal said Pasadena’s current method of electing council members – six from single-member districts and two at large – deliberately discriminated against Hispanics/Latinos, a rapidly growing segment of the city’s populace. The Fifth Circuit’s ruling only impacts the city’s request that the May election be held using the current 6-2 plan. The merits of the city’s appeal will be taken up later.

At least 19 candidates have filed for mayor and council under the 6-2 plan. Mayoral candidates include former Reps. Gilbert Peña (R-Pasadena) and Robert Talton (R-Pasadena).

Local Elections: Filing continues for offices on the May 6 uniform election ballot, which primarily impacts municipal offices. Filing continues until February 17, although some cities have different deadlines.

Abilene: Addiction recovery housing director Richard Kennedy became the third person to file for mayor. He faces former council member Robert Briley and current council member Anthony Williams. Mayor Norm Archibald announced in December that he would not seek re-election.

Amarillo: Potter Co. Republican Party chair James Lowder announced he would run for mayor. He faces former Amarillo Economic Development Corp. board director Ginger Nelson, who has been endorsed by Mayor Paul Harpole. The incumbent announced last month that we would not seek re-election.

Dallas: As expected, former council member Dwaine Caraway filed against incumbent Carolyn King Arnold, whom he helped elect in 2015, in a bid to reclaim the D4 seat he held for eight years. Caraway was term-limited two years ago, but the city’s term limits only apply to consecutive terms, making him eligible to serve again. Two other candidates, Corinth/Ewing Neighborhood Association President Lester Houston and activist Richard Sheridan, have filed campaign treasurer appointments but have not yet filed for the seat. Sheridan received 28 votes in his 2013 race for the D13 seat.

Kilgore: Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, who has served since 2010, is facing a challenge from council member Victor Boyd, who was first elected to the council last year.

Lewisville: Council member Leroy Vaughn passed away last week. Vaughn, who has served on the council since 2011, had filed for re-election.

Round Rock: High school student Josh Couture filed for mayor. Council member Craig Morgan has also filed. Mayor Alan McGraw previously announced he would not seek a fourth term.

San Antonio: Mayor Ivy Taylor, council member Ron Nirenberg and Bexar Co. Democratic Chair Manuel Medina will participate in a town hall tomorrow (Tuesday) organized and moderated by the Rivard Report’s Robert Rivard.

Meanwhile, perennial candidate Michael “Commander” Idrogo filed paperwork to become Taylor’s eighth official challenger. It is his ninth consecutive race for mayor dating back to 2001.

'Commander' Idrogo's Previous Mayoral Campaigns

2015 – Received 221 votes (0.26%), tying for 7th place out of 14 candidates

2013 – Received 5% of the vote, finishing 4th out of seven

2011 – Received just under 3% of the vote, finishing last out of five

2009 – Received 371 votes (0.49%), finishing 8th out of nine

2007 – Received just under 2% of the vote, finishing 6th out of seven

2005 – Received 121 votes (0.22%), finishing last out of seven

2003 – Received 6% of the vote, his highest finish, finishing last out of three

2001 – Received 155 votes (0.15%), finishing 9th out of 10

Idrogo also ran unsuccessfully for CD20 as a Libertarian in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. In 2014, he sought and did not receive the Libertarian nomination. Idrogo used the margins and some of the questions on his application as a platform (pdf) for his campaign themes. Under “Telephone Contact Information (Optional),” Idrogo wrote, “Current council can barely handle day-to-day; Michael knows how to develop San Antonio into economic powerhouse!” In the margins, he touted his international residences and his aviation experience, and near his signature, he indicated he wanted to “Make San Antonio Great Again!” [Idrogo’s original text is in all capital letters.]

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