By Edmond Ortiz
A past local school board trustee and a small business owner are vying to be the mayor of Cibolo in the Nov. 4 elections, which include races for three council positions.
Focus On San Antonio recently sent questions to filed candidates in contested races, inviting them to share experiences and backgrounds that are relevant to the public office that they are seeking, and to have them offer their priority issues and goals.
MAYOR
Terry Hinze, a former member of the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District board, and Kara Latimer, a business owner, are running for the mayoral post. Current Mayor Mark Allen declined a re-election bid, ending a seven-year stint in public office.
Hinze spent about 10 years on the SCUCISD board, a period during which trustees tap Belinda Pustka as superintendent, and floated a successful bond issue that funded construction of Steele High School.
Having served on the most recent Cibolo Charter Review Committee, Hinze currently sits with the city’s planning and zoning commission, and the town’s Old Town Master Plan Advisory Committee. He ran for mayor in 2022.
Hinze’s mayoral campaign is centered around attracting more industries to Cibolo to help alleviate homeowners’ tax burden, and to create more job opportunities.
“Our family has a long history in Cibolo, and this has given me a deep understanding of our great little city,” Hinze said. “I believe I bring the respect for our history and the vision for our future that Cibolo is in need of. I respect the unique and important roles of both City Council and city staff.”
Kara Latimer, a previous council candidate, has served with various city boards, commissions and panels, and with The Chamber-Schertz-Cibolo-Selma Area. She currently serves with the city’s master plan advisory committee, and ran for mayor in 2022.
Latimer has indicated maintaining public safety, infrastructure, responsible growth and land use, and economic development as her top priorities. Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Latimer to questions posed to her.
COUNCIL PLACE 2
David Freimarck, a graduate of Clemens High School and Texas Tech University, bean his professional career as a contracts administrator in Washington, D.C., before returning to Cibolo where he has started a pet grooming shop with his young family.
Lowering the property tax, promoting zero-based budgeting, seeking innovative solutions toward improving infrastructure, encouraging business growth while limiting regulations, supporting first responders, and developing a greater cultural identity all are main themes in Freimarck’s campaign.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Freimarck to questions posed to him.
Randy Roberts, a production manager at a local heating/ventilation/air conditioning company, is seeking a second term in office. He has centered his re-election campaign around issues such as responsible growth and economic development.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Roberts to questions posed to him.
COUNCIL PLACE 3
Joe Armstrong is a medical laboratory scientist. Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Armstrong to questions posed to him.
Maria Fishback, a contracts manager and scheduling coordinator for San Antonio-based Lake Flato Architects, serves with Cibolo’s planning and zoning commission.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Fishback to questions posed to her .
Marissa-Ellen Patterson, a U.S. Defense Department operations research analyst, has nearly 20 years of experience in public service and program management. She has also chaired many community organization and nonprofit boards.
Patterson is advocating smart, sustainable growth, improving infrastructure and road safety, and strengthening community engagement.
“I’m running because I care about our community and believe in transparent, proactive leadership,” Patterson said. “I want to be an advocate for residents’ voices, help guide thoughtful growth, and ensure that Cibolo remains a safe, connected, and thriving place to live.”
Charles Ruppert is a former Cibolo mayor and a military retiree who once ran for Guadalupe County judge. Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Ruppert to questions posed to him.
COUNCIL PLACE 7
Cody Hicks works as a service program manager at an environmental sampling and emergency response company. Hicks is a former council candidate who serves with the city’s economic development corporation board, and the town’s master plan advisory committee.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Hicks to questions posed to him.
Shari McDaniel has worked in sales and marketing. She currently serves with the city’s parks and recreation commission, zoning board of adjustment, and charter review commission.
A former council candidate, McDaniel has also served with boards of the Green Valley Special Utility District and Canyon Regional Water Authority.
McDaniel’s campaign priorities include growing local businesses, especially those owned and operated by military veterans, maintaining public safety, supporting smart growth and infrastructure, and promoting a stronger sense of community through the city’s parks and recreational amenities.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from McDaniel to questions posed to her.
Robert Mahoney, seeking a second term in office, filed for the Place 7 at-large council position because the city recently withdrew council district boundary lines, and now he no longer lives in District 3.
The Texas Tech graduate, and retired police lieutenant has indicated his council priorities and goals include enhancing parks, streets and other infrastructure features, growing the local economy, maintaining governmental transparency, and boosting public safety.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Mahoney to questions posed to him.
Summer Marie Brown is a U.S. Army veteran, and a current human resources who volunteers in various ways in Cibolo and the surrounding area. She lost the 2023 mayoral election runoff to Mark Allen.
Brown has indicated her top issues include maintaining smart growth, parks, community services and adequate infrastructure, promoting public safety and emergency preparedness, bolstering economic growth, and emphasizing the importance of governmental transparency and community engagement.
Focus On San Antonio did not receive a response from Brown to questions posed to her.
What’s next
Early voting will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 20-24; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 25 and Oct. 27-31; and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 26 at Cibolo Fire Station No. 2, 3864 Cibolo Valley Drive; the Guadalupe County Elections Office Annex, 1101 Elbel Road in Schertz, and some other area sites. Election Day voting will be available 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 4 at multiple locations. Each elected position carries a three-year term.
