Early voting for council run-off starts May 27

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Mansfield voters have one more decision to make.

City Council Place 5 is still up for grabs after no candidate in the May 3 special election received at least 50 percent of the vote.

Local restaurant owner Melisa Perez and Todd Simmons, a financial advisor, received the most votes in the four-person race, leading to a June 7 run-off. Early voting begins May 27.

The candidates were asked what they hoped to achieve if they were elected and why they were the best person for the job.

"I’m running for Mansfield City Council to bring a fresh, independent voice to City Hall,” said Perez, who received 3,551 votes (37.64 percent). “Our city deserves leaders who listen, question and serve, not just go along to get along. Unanimous votes without real debate don’t reflect a community as diverse as ours. I won’t just join the team, I’ll represent you. I believe in open discussion, transparency and putting citizens first. Mansfield needs leaders who lead, not follow and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”

Simmons received 3,467 votes (36.75 percent) in the May 3 special election.

“There are four main ideas that will be my focus,” Simmons said. “1. Bring to Mansfield manufacturing/corporate headquarters that will increase our job quality and average income, plus potentially remove some planned apartments that have been pre-approved. 2. Assure that our public works and public safety employees are earning a competitive wage compared to their North Texas counterparts. 3. Evaluate the way we award construction and development contracts to assure all businesses have an equitable opportunity to earn business from city projects. 4. Continue to improve and grow our parks system.”

The special election was held for Place 5 after Julie Short, who has held the seat since May 2018, resigned to throw her hat into the ring for the mayor’s seat against incumbent Michael Evans. Evans won the May 3 election, as did Place 2 incumbent Tamera Bounds, who was opposed by Lori Williams.

The winner of the Place 5 run-off will serve the final two years of Short’s three-year term.

Also on the ballot for the May 3 election for Place 5 were Lake Ridge High School administrator Lance Hood, who got 1,573 votes (16.68 percent), and Viridian Construction owner Eric Rozak, who took 842 votes (8.93 percent).

Early voting will run from May 27-June 3, with the election set for June 7. For early voting and election day times and locations, click here.

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