By Edmond Ortiz
New Braunfels’ incumbent mayor and one council member were ousted in the May 2 elections, while another sitting councilor barely held onto her post.
Mayor
U.S. Army veteran Michael French, who worked at the White House during President Trump’s first term, ousted attorney Neal Linnartz, who sought a second term as mayor.
French received 48.3% of the vote while Linnartz placed second with 39.2%. Real estate agent Angela Allen finished third, followed by disabled veteran and business owner Jonathon Frazier, who withdrew from the mayoral race but after the filing period had ended.
Managing growth was a prevailing issue in the oft-heated contest for New Braunfels mayor. French said city leaders have not listened to ideas or concerns presented by residents. His campaign priorities included smart growth, planning for the city’s long-range water needs, expanding a better-equipped police force, proposing a crime control and prevention district, and changing culture at City Hall.
“I want to thank everyone that supported me and helped me through this extremely challenging journey,” French said on his Facebook campaign page. “To the citizens of New Braunfels – thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am extremely proud to serve all of you. I will do my best and I will not let you down.”
City Council District 6
The other upset in New Braunfels’ May 2 election occurred with the Place 6 seat, which Army veteran and past combat medic Nikki Shaw won with 44.6%. In doing so, Shaw ousted local business owner April Ryan, who sought a second term. She placed second with 33%. Test engineer Steven Voges finished in third place.
Shaw said she wanted to apply her experiences as a military officer toward city issues such as smart growth, maintaining quality infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, affordability challenges, especially regarding senior citizens, veterans and young families, and helping to improve schools.
City Council District 5
Councilmember Mary Ann Labowski narrowly fended off a challenge from sales professional Chase Taylor, a past city building standards commissioner who now serves on the city’s planning commission, and workforce housing advisory committee.
An outreach community coordinator for local company Pak Medical Group, Labowski tallied 50.5%. She focused her re-election campaign on positive growth management, preserving the city’s small-town appeal, infrastructure, economic development, transportation, public safety, affordable housing and property taxes.
French, Shaw and Taylor had campaigned together against the incumbents ahead of an election that spurred 13% voter turnout, according to Comal
