Mayor's race in Garland seems destined for a runoff; citizens lean towards a $360M bond initiative
The race for Garland's new mayor is heating up, and it's shaping up for a nail-biting runoff. As the votes rolled in on May 3rd, it seemed former City Council member Deborah Morris would clinch the victory, snagging an impressive 44.3% of the vote. However, with current City Council member Dylan Hedrick close behind at 33.4%, the city's future may be more uncertain than expected.
With neither candidate reaching the required majority, a runoff election between the top two vote-getters was scheduled for June 7. Outgoing Mayor Scot LeMay, who has served his term limit, will be replaced by either Morris or Hedrick.
Morris, who has served three terms on the Garland City Council and must call it quits in 2024, plans to focus on public safety, street and sidewalk improvements, quality-of-life initiatives, business growth, and bolstering Garland's regional presence. She expressed her eagerness to engage more residents in city processes and empower them to believe they make a difference.
Hedrick, serving his third and final term representing District 7 on the Garland City Council, brings his background as a civil engineer specializing in land development to the table. He intends to utilize public-private partnerships to rebuild city infrastructure and drive further economic growth. His experience working directly with developers daily gives him unique insight into fostering successful city projects.
Ranking below both Morris and Hedrick were Roel Garcia, PC Mathew, Shibu Samuel, and Koni Ramos-Kaiwi, each receiving less than 8% of the vote.
In other Garland news, voters overwhelmingly approved a $360 million bond package on May 3rd. Over 82.7% of the vote went to Prop A, which allocated $230 million for street and alley improvements. Other prop sizes and purposes, such as the revitalization of the Granville Arts Center and park and recreation improvements, also received significant support. The latest updates indicate that all four propositions passed, with more than 70% of voters approving each one.
The upcoming runoff election for Garland's new mayor is not just about politics, but also about public safety, public works, and general-news issues. Dylan Hedrick plans to leverage his background in civil engineering to rebuild city infrastructure, aiming for economic growth through public-private partnerships, while Deborah Morris has pledged to prioritize public safety, street and sidewalk improvements, quality-of-life initiatives, business growth, and Garland's regional presence, with a focus on engaging more residents in city processes.
