Mansfield mayor, council member now unopposed

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Mansfield’s City Council and Mansfield ISD school board races are looking a lot slimmer.

The withdrawal of several candidates means that both open seats for the City Council are unopposed.

At Place 1, the withdrawal of challenger Todd McLain leaves only Mayor Michael Evans on the ballot. Evans, a pastor, was elected in a December 2020 runoff to complete an unfinished term after former Mayor David Cook was elected to the Texas House of Representatives.

Realtor Noel Rendon announced his withdrawal for Place 2, leaving only incumbent Tamera Bounds on the ballot. Bounds, a regional rehabilitation director, was elected in 2020 to complete the unfinished term of Brent Newsom, who resigned to run for mayor.

In the school board race, the slate is less crowded, too.

Five candidates filed for Place 3, but two have since withdrawn.

Craig Tipping, a physical therapist, Shawn Thompson, an adjuster, and Benita C. Reed, a college professor, are still in the race, while Joshua Spare, who is in IT security, and Chetema Lucas Frances, a lawyer and stay-at-home mom, have withdrawn from contention. Incumbent Randall Canedy is not seeking re-election.

At Place 4, incumbent Keziah Valdes Farrar, a Realtor, is facing challenger Amanda “Mandy” Jackson Sneed, a pharmacist. Kenneth Dixon, who is retired, filed to run, but has since withdrawn. Farrar was elected in 2020 to finish trustee Raul Gonzalez’s three-year term after Gonzalez resigned after being elected to the Arlington City Council.

Three candidates are seeking the Place 5 post: Bianca Benavides Anderson, who is in sales, Jo Anna Cruz Cardoza, a restaurant operator, and Le Kieshia E. Dawkins, a social worker. Anne Weydeck, a retired educator, had filed to run, but is no longer on the ballot. The seat is currently held by Karen Marcucci, who did not seek re-election.

Place 7 looks like a rematch between Courtney Lackey Wilson and Yolanda McPherson.

Clynita Grafenreed, who works in mental health education, had filed to run, but has since withdrawn her name.

McPherson, a retired educator, and Wilson battled to a run-off in December 2020 for the Place 7 position, with Wilson winning with 53 percent of the vote to McPherson’s 47 percent. Wilson, a business owner and executive assistant, resigned last summer, citing medical reasons. Former trustee Darrell Sneed has filled the Place 7 seat since her resignation in July.

Voters will also choose which projects they want in a bond election that includes a Veterans Memorial, recreation center/library, park improvements and an inclusive park. If all propositions are approved, the bonds would total $150.5 million. The tax increase for Mansfield property owners will depend on the interest rate that the bonds are sold.

The general election will be May 7 with early voting running from April 25 to May 3.

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