Corpus Christi City Councilor Ben Molina announced in July that he will not seek re-election to his District 2 seat. So far, three people have filed in that race: Mark Scott, Sylvia Campos, and Brian Rosas. Courtesy photo
Monday, Aug. 22, is deadline to file for a position on the Corpus Christi City Council. The entire council — mayor, three at-large seats, and five district seats — will be on the Tuesday, Nov. 8, mid-term election ballot. The filing period began on July 25.
For those interested, the 2022 candidate packet complete with application form and requirements to serve can be found online at 2022 Election Central. You’ll also find a video of how to file on the city’s website. Although made in 2020, the process remains the same.
You can also pick up applications in paper form from the City Secretary’s Office, first floor of City Hall, 1201 Leopard St. Call City Secretary Rebecca Huerta at 361-826-3105 or email Ruth Bocchino at ruthb2@cctexas.com for more information.
City council positions, including mayor, are nonpartisan.
Mayor Paulette Guajardo, who is finishing up her first term in office, has filed for re-election. Previously, she served two terms on the council from 2016-21. As of Aug. 15, she has drawn one opponent, John Wright.
Also filing for re-election are all three at-large council members: Mike Pusley, John Martinez, and Michael Hunter. Three newcomers have thrown their hats into the ring: Rene Cervantes, Rachel Caballero, and Jim Klein. The top three vote getters out of the six candidates on the ballot win.
In District 1, former council member Everett Roy has filed for the seat currently held by Billy Lerma. Roy served from 2018-21. Also vying for that seat is Tracy McCall.
District 2 is an open seat this year as Councilor Ben Molina announced in July that he will seek re-election. He served three, two-year terms beginning in 2016.
"This has been a difficult decision for me because, although I feel I have been effective in my role as a council member, I feel that it’s time for me to move on," he said in a Facebook post announcing his decision. "There’s other endeavors and goals I’d like to achieve and focus on in both my personal and professional life."
As of Aug. 15, three people have filed for that seat, including former at-large council member Mark Scott, who was reprimanded by the council at a meeting Nov. 1 for resigning his seat to avoid term limits so he could run for mayor in 2018. He resigned in September at the end of his fourth and final term as a City Council member. He returned to his position after an independent attorney hired by the council said Scott would legally continue to be a council member until officially replaced by the Nov. 8 general election.
After a legal battle declared he could run for mayor in a special election called in March 2017, he withdrew from the race. The special election was to replace newly elected Mayor Dan McQueen, who resigned on his 37th day in office.
District 2 candidates also include Brian Rosas and Sylvia Campos.
In District 3, only incumbent Roland Barrera has filed so far.
The same is true with District 4, with only incumbent Greg Smith having filed as of Monday morning, Aug. 15.
No one has yet filed for the District 5 seat currently held by Gil Hernandez.
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