By Edmond Ortiz
Early voting began June 1 and continues through June 9 ahead of June 13 runoff elections that will settle one board race in part of the Alamo Colleges District, and two city council contests in New Braunfels.
Alamo Colleges District
Business owner Robert Garcia, and Carolyn DeLecour, a past ACD professor and a current certified grief educator, are vying in the runoff election for the ACD board District 9 seat due to their showing in the May 2 San Antonio-area local elections.
The winner will succeed incumbent District 9 trustee Leslie Sachanowicz, who narrowly missed out in qualifying for the runoff election.
Garcia, a Northwest Vista College graduate and the owner of a local accounting practice, received 29% of the vote to finish first in the May 2 election. DeLecour finished second with 28.9%.
DeLecour spent nearly 50 years as an educator, 27 of which were at Palo Alto College. She has been campaigning on issues such as improving student success and opportunities, supporting faculty and staff through trust, shared governance and open communication, and fostering more engagement with community members and businesses, especially those who employ ACD students.
Possessing degrees in accounting and taxation, Garcia is prioritizing fiscal responsibility, expanding workforce opportunities for students, growing partnerships with local employers, and enhancing communications among district leadership, faculty, staff and community members in his campaign.
District 9 covers a sliver of northeast San Antonio and neighboring suburbs such as Live Oak, Universal City, Selma and Windcrest.
Early voting is being held 8 a.m.-6 p.m. June 1-6; noon-6 p.m. June 7; and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 8 and 9 at the San Antonio College Victory Center, 1819 N. Main Ave.; Northeast Lakeview College, 1201 Kitty Hawk Road in Live Oak, and Hope Church, 18850 Redland Road.
Election Day polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the same three locations.
New Braunfels
A hotly contested mayoral race continues between first-term incumbent Neal Linnartz and opponent Michael French.
French, a military veteran and a former Trump White House staffer, proclaimed victory after THE May 2 election, where he received 49.1 % of the vote.
However, controversy emerged when city officials said that French failed to meet a majority vote of 50% or more that is required by the state for a public office involving a three-year term. The city’s charter currently calls for a plurality vote in a mayoral election.
But because state law supersedes local law, New Braunfels officials announced that French must face Linnartz, who finished second on May 2, in a June 13 runoff election.
The announcement riled many New Braunfels residents, especially French and many of his supporters.
Council voted 4-3 May 11 to oust City Attorney Valeria Acevedo who informed residents about the confusion surrounding the conflict between the city charter and state election code, and the need for a runoff election. Councilmembers Toni Carter, Mary Ann Labowski and April Ryan opposed Acevedo’s firing.
The city is currently relying on Assistant City Attorney/Prosecutor Raika Rowe and Senior Assistant City Attorney Nathan Brown for legal advice and review. Local officials are also considering the creation of a commission to explore amending and updating the city charter.
An attorney who has been active with several New Braunfels professional, business and civic organizations, Linnartz has made smart growth, public safety, protecting the city’s character, fiscal responsibility, and thoughtful economic development his top priorities in his re-election campaign.
French has capitalized on an anti-incumbent streak sparked in large part by an increasing sense of dissatisfaction that many residents have felt regarding New Braunfels’ recent growth. His key issues include planning for the city’s long-range water needs, expanding and bolstering the police force, forming a crime control and prevention district, and changing culture at City Hall.
April Ryan, the current District 6 council member, and Army veteran and past combat medic Nikki Shaw were the top two vote-getters in the race for District 6.
A local business owner, Ryan is campaigning on issues such as fiscal responsibility, investing in infrastructure, maintaining adequate public safety, and improving the quality of life.
Shaw, a political newcomer, is using her campaign to address city growth, maintaining quality infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and affordability challenges, especially among senior citizens, veterans and young families.
District 6 covers a portion of New Braunfels east of Interstate 35 and south of the Guadalupe River, including many neighborhoods that surround Fischer Park.
Comal County voters make take part in early voting between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. June 1-5; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 6; and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. June 8 and 9 at the Comal County Elections Office: 396 N. Seguin Ave.,and the Comal County Church Hill Annex, 1345 Church Hill Drive.
Guadalupe County voters living in New Braunfels may participate in early voting at the same times and dates at the Guadalupe County Elections Office, 3251 Texas 123 in Seguin, and Redemptive Grace Ministries, 2240 FM 725 in New Braunfels.
Election Day polling for Comal County voters in New Braunfels will be held 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at: City Hall, 550 Landa St., Westside Branch Library, 2910 I-35 S., New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St., Comal County Church Hill Annex, and Eden Hill: 631 Lakeview Blvd. Guadalupe County voters may go to Redemptive Grace Ministries at the same time.
