By December, Corpus Christi could have a whole new city council and mayor. Thirty people have filed for the nine seats up for election on the Council Nov. 6. As of deadline Monday, August 20, five filed for mayor, seven for the three at-large seats, three for District 1, four for District 2, five for District 3, two for District 4, and four for District 5. Districts 3 and 5 do not have incumbents in the race.
The five mayoral candidates include former Mayor Dan McQueen, who defeated incumbent Mayor Nelda Martinez in the last election in 2016. He resigned after only 37 days in office.
District 5 council member Rudy Garza Jr. decided to run as an at-large candidate this time around, leaving District 5 as one of two open positions, no incumbent. He’s in a crowded race of seven candidates vying for three positions.
Incumbent at-large candidates who filed for reelection are Paulette Guajardo and Michael Hunter. Debbie Lindsey-Opel, who was appointed to the at-large seat vacated by Joe McComb when he was elected Mayor in a special election earlier this year, did not file. She was sworn in July 10 of this year.
In races where a candidate does not receive over 50 percent of the vote, a run off election will be held on Dec. 18.
The order of names on the ballot was determined at a drawing in city hall Thursday, Aug. 24. Candidates filing for each seat are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Mayoral Candidates

  • Michael Hall
  • Ray Madrigal De Pancho Villa
  • Dan McQueen
  • Joe McComb*
  • Aislynn Campbell

At-Large Candidates

  • John Garcia
  • Brandey Batey
  • Rudy Garza Jr.
  • Kaylynn Paxson
  • David Boatright
  • Michael Hunter*
  • Paulette Guajardo*

District 1 Candidates

  • Julian Firo
  • Everett Roy*
  • Joy Miller

District 2 Candidates

  • James (T.C.) Chadden
  • Sylvia Campos
  • Ben Molina*
  • R. J. Torres

District 3 Candidates

  • Eric Cantu
  • Roland Barrera
  • Roland A. Gaona
  • Eric Lee (ET) Tunche
  • Margareta Fratila

District 4 Candidates

  • Greg Smith*
  • Richard Diaz

District 5 Candidates

  • Eric Rodriguez
  • Carlos Torres
  • Paul Thurman
  • Gil Hernandez

*Incumbents