Corpus Christi: Former council member Mark Scott is eligible to run for mayor in the May 6 special election and must be included on the ballot, the a three-judge panel of the 13th Court of Appeals ruled. “The plain language of the City Charter supports Scott’s contention” that he did not serve a full four terms and thus is eligible under the city’s term limits ordinance. Scott resigned in September, before his final two-year term ended, to be able to run for mayor in 2018. Had he completed his term, he would have been ineligible until 2022. The city council determined that his early resignation did not keep him from terming out and thus being ineligible to run this year. The city could appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court, but several council members appeared unfavorable toward doing so. A new ballot drawing will be held Monday morning.

Realtors’ Endorsements: Via a series of tweets, the Texas Assoc. of Realtors’ TREPAC released endorsements for local elections in four Metroplex-area cities:

  • Allen: incumbent Steve Terrell (mayor)
  • Frisco: Jeff Cheney (mayor open) and incumbent Tim Nelson (P5)
  • Plano: incumbent Harry LaRosiliere (mayor), incumbent David Downs (P8) and Kayci Prince (P4 open); and
  • Wylie: incumbent Eric Hogue (mayor).

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility/Empower Texans has endorsed different candidates in the Allen mayor and Plano mayoral and council races. TREPAC released several other endorsements via tweets last week.

San Angelo: The four mayoral candidates took turns outlining their goals for several dozen voters in attendance at a forum hosted by the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, reported Joe Hyde of the San Angelo Standard-Times. Tony Villarreal, the former mayor of Fort Stockton, said public safety, infrastructure and streamlined permitting would be his priorities. Brenda Gunter focused on economic growth to pay for new infrastructure and otherwise trimming the cost of city government. Council member Charlotte Farmer defended the city’s economic development policies and permitting office. Zach Taylor, a 24-year-old running his first race, said he wanted a smaller, more transparent government and performance reviews for the city’s employees, who he repeatedly described as “unelected bureaucrats.” Mayor Dwain Morrison, who has served for 14 years, is not seeking re-election.

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