Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Corpus Christi Mayor & City Council Election 2026

9 of 9

council seats up

7 contests

43 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Find a candidate

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council At-Large · Vote for up to 3

Zoraida BasalduChemical engineer, according to the city's candidate list.2sourced
Scott F. CorlissU.S. Navy disabled veteran who founded A/C&R Services 32 years ago.1sourced
Joshua FraedrickSmall business owner (CC-TX Lawn Care).2sourced
Sammy GonzalesCVS shift supervisor, according to the city's candidate list.1sourced
Julian Jacob HernandezOutage planner, according to the city's candidate list.2sourced
Alex JohnstonSoftware developer, according to the city's candidate list.2sourced
Dan McQueenAuthor, according to the city's candidate list.2sourced
Merida Nardone MendozaRestaurant owner who has chaired the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and held leadership roles with the Texas Restaurant Association.2sourced
Michael MillerConstruction executive and fifth-generation Corpus Christian who has served on the Planning Commission.1sourced
Willie Morales Jr.Retired, according to the city's candidate list.1sourced
Anthem PowersPlumber, according to the city's candidate list.1sourced
Mark ScottIncumbentAt-large council member7sourced
Richard SheltonSales leader with about 25 years of experience and a real estate investor.2sourced
Carolyn VaughnIncumbentAt-large council member7sourced
Nancy VeraLongtime president of the local teachers union.1sourced

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

City Council District 2 · 1 seat

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · 1 seat

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

All nine seats are up. Every voter picks a mayor, up to three at-large members, and one member for their own district. A Dec. 12 runoff is scheduled where needed.

2 notes on these statements

Mayor Paulette Guajardo was suspended from Aug. 8 to Sept. 6, 2026; Mayor Pro Tem Kaylynn Paxson held the mayor's authority during that time. City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026

KEDT's Prep for the Polls candidate interviews are published as audio; the guide does not summarize them. KEDT Prep for the Polls

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesInner Harbor desalination and water supply, Fair Water Amendment (Proposition B), Property tax rate and budget Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day to register to vote

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Inner Harbor desalination and water supply

Where it standsThe Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant is stalled after the council rejected its design contract on Sept. 1, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to revive the Inner Harbor plant, pursue desalination elsewhere, or rely on other new water supplies.

On Sept. 1, 2026, the council voted 5-3 against a $78.6 million contract with Corpus Christi Desal Partners to advance the Inner Harbor plant's design. Corpus Christi Caller-Times · Sep 17, 2026
The plant was planned to produce up to 30 million gallons of treated water per day, at an estimated cost of $979 million. Corpus Christi Caller-Times · Sep 17, 2026
In February 2026 the council voted 5-3 to negotiate a design-build contract for the plant with Corpus Christi Desal Partners. City Council minutes, Feb. 24, 2026 · Feb 24, 2026
In June 2026 the council voted 7-2 to table the design-build contract until Sept. 1. City Council special meeting minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026

Fair Water Amendment (Proposition B)

Where it standsA citizen-petitioned charter amendment on industrial water users' drought surcharges is on the Nov. 3 ballot as Proposition B.

What's on the tableHow the city carries out or responds to the vote on industrial drought surcharges and conservation rules.

The amendment, backed by 12,788 verified signatures, aims to eliminate the drought surcharge exemption fee for large-volume water users. KRIS 6 · Aug 12, 2026
The exemption fee, 31 cents per 1,000 gallons, lets industrial users avoid drought surcharges if they are triggered. KRIS 6 · Aug 12, 2026
On Aug. 11, 2026, the council voted 6-2 to order the election on the amendment rather than declare it ineligible as a climate charter amendment. City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026

Property tax rate and budget

Where it standsThe council set the FY2027 property tax rate at $0.599774 per $100 valuation in September 2026.

What's on the tableThe FY2028 budget and property tax rate, adopted in late summer 2027.

On Sept. 1, 2026, the council approved a $0.599774 rate on first reading, 7-1; the city described it as a 0.50% increase over the no-new-revenue rate. City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
A motion to adopt the no-new-revenue rate of $0.596985 failed the same day. City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
On Aug. 11, 2026, the council voted 7-1 to propose a FY2027 rate of no more than $0.599774. City Council minutes, Aug. 11, 2026 · Aug 11, 2026

Crime Control and Prevention District (Proposition A)

Where it standsVoters will decide whether to continue the Crime Control and Prevention District and its sales tax for 10 years.

What's on the tableEach year's Crime Control and Prevention District budget for police staffing and equipment.

On July 28, 2026, the council voted 8-1 on first reading to order an election on continuing the district and its sales tax for 10 years. City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026
The district's FY2027 budget of $11,189,046 funds 78 police sworn personnel and support equipment; the council approved it 8-1. City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. What should the city do with the stalled Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant?
2. Should voters get a direct vote before the city commits to a major desalination plant?
3. What property tax rate should the city adopt?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Last day to register to voteCity of Corpus Christi · Aug 25, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCity of Corpus Christi · Aug 25, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Last day for the county clerk to receive a mail ballot applicationCity of Corpus Christi · Aug 25, 2026Oct 23, 2026
Early voting endsCity of Corpus Christi · Aug 25, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Election DayCity of Corpus Christi · Aug 25, 2026Nov 3, 2026
Runoff electionCity of Corpus ChristiDec 12, 2026

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 9 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Voters elect a mayor and eight council members — five from single-member districts and three at-large — for the 2026-2028 term. City of Corpus Christi
All council members serve two-year terms. Corpus Christi Caller-Times · Jul 24, 2026
In the at-large race, voters may choose up to three candidates for three seats. City of Corpus Christi
The mayor votes on council items; roll calls list Mayor Guajardo among the voting members. City Council minutes, Feb. 24, 2026 · Feb 24, 2026
The city's election page lists a runoff election on Dec. 12, 2026. City of Corpus Christi
Davian Gomez and Anna Hernandez withdrew from the mayor's race after the ballot drawing; their names will not appear on the ballot. Corpus Christi Caller-Times · Sep 24, 2026

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.