The most current Corpus Christi City Council photo does not include the latest appointed member, Everett Roy, who replaced Carolyn Vaughn (back row, second from left) just a few months ago. Vaughn resigned when she was appointed to the Nueces County Commissioners Court. To her right is Lucy Rubio, the only council member who for sure is not running for re-election. She is running for justice of the peace instead.
Now is the time to step up for those who want to have an elected voice in Corpus Christi’s future. Filing for each of the nine City Council seats begins Monday, July 23. Applicants have until 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, to either file for eight council seats or mayor. Applications for the election, which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, should be turned in to the city secretary’s office. An applicant package will be available online July 23.
Most of the council members are expected to file for re-election, including Mayor Joe McComb, who won the seat in a special election in March. He filled a vacancy left by Dan McQueen, who defeated Mayor Nelda Martinez in the November 2017 general election. McQueen quit after only 37 days in office.
To be eligible to run for City Council, candidates must not owe any back taxes to the city and must meet all the requirements of the Texas Election Code. The city charges a $100 filing fee or asks for a petition signed by a certain percentage of registered voters.
Besides the mayor, the council has three at-large positions and five that represent specific areas of town. All members, including the mayor, serve two-year terms. The entire council is up for re-election every two years.
The current council includes:
Mayor
Joe McComb
McComb served on the council twice before, representing District 5 from 1983-87 and 1989-93. He was serving his first term as an at-large member when McQueen quit. McComb threw his hat in the ring for the special election earlier this year. He has announced he will file for the Nov. 6 general election.
At-large member
Paulette Guajardo
First elected in November 2016, she is expected to file for re-election though she had not officially announced as of Friday, July 20.
At-large member
Michael Hunter
Hunter was appointed in 2015 to replace at-large council member Lillian Riojas, who moved to San Antonio for a new job. Hunter was then elected to a full term in 2016 and is expected to seek re-election.
At-large member
Debbie Lindsey-Opel
Lindsey-Opel was appointed this year to fill the position formerly held by Joe McComb, who resigned when he won the special mayoral election in March. The Nov. 6 election will be her first campaign for a full term.
District 1
Everett Roy
Roy was appointed this year — a few months after Lindsey-Opel — to replace Carolyn Vaughn. Vaughn resigned to be appointed to the Nueces County Commissioners Court. She is now running for election to that county position. Roy is expected to file for the city seat.
District 2
Ben Molina
First elected in November 2016, he is expected to file for re-election.
District 3
Lucy Rubio
Rubio will not be running for re-election. She is on the ballot for Precinct 1, Place 3, justice of the peace in Nueces County, so this seat is open.
District 4
Greg Smith
First elected in November 2016, he is expected to file for re-election.
District 5
Rudy Garza Jr.
The only longtime member left on the council, Garza was elected to his third term in November 2016. Garza is expected to seek re-election, but this will have to be his last time as per the city’s term limits ordinance. He will have to wait six years before being eligible to run again.
For information on how to file for City Council, call the city secretary’s office at (361) 826-3105. The office is located at 1201 Leopard St. in City Hall.
