Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Wichita Falls Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

4 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 3, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

Scott PoenitzschPresident of Delta T Thermal Solutions and owner of Horseshoe Bend Cellars.7sourced
Tim ShortIncumbentOwner and agent of a State Farm Insurance agency, first elected mayor in November 2023.9sourced

City Council District 3 · 1 seat

City Council District 4 · Unopposed

Mike BattaglinoIncumbentFormer US Air Force F-15 crew chief and president of the Sheppard Military Affairs Committee.7sourced

City Council District 5 · 1 seat

All city voters choose the mayor; only voters in Districts 3, 4 and 5 choose those seats. A candidate needs a majority of the votes cast, or a runoff is held.

3 notes on these statements

Tom Taylor announced his endorsement of Heather Reitsma for the District 5 seat. KAUZ News Channel 6 · Aug 20, 2026

Mike Battaglino is the only candidate on the ballot for District 4. City of Wichita Falls

The city's most recent runoff election was held on Dec. 14, 2024. Wichita County Elections

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Robert BrooksCouncilor, District 2; term ends November 20272sourced Austin CobbCouncilor, At-Large; term ends November 20274sourced Whitney FlackCouncilor, District 1; term ends November 20273sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesData centers, Budget and property taxes, Borrowing for city projects 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

Data centers

Where it standsThe council rejected an Airport Drive data center rezoning in May 2026, while a data center at the Wichita Falls Business Park is moving ahead.

What's on the tableThe council will rule on any future rezoning requests, agreements and incentives for data centers.

The council voted 0-6 on May 5, 2026, against rezoning land on Airport Drive for a data center campus. City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
The Airport Drive plan would have allowed nine two-story buildings totaling about 1.35 million square feet. City Council minutes, May 5, 2026 · May 5, 2026
The 4A Economic Development Corporation sold 225 acres at the Wichita Falls Business Park for a data center for $14,625,000. KFDX · Oct 7, 2025

Budget and property taxes

Where it standsThe FY 2027 budget proposed a property tax rate of 67.79 cents per $100 of value, down from 68.25 cents, with lower water rates.

What's on the tableThe council will set future tax rates, utility rates and economic development spending.

The proposed rate of 67.79 cents would be the city's lowest property tax rate in 11 years. KFDX · Aug 11, 2026
City officials estimated the median household's annual property tax bill would still rise by about $7. KFDX · Aug 11, 2026
The council set Sept. 15, 2026, as the date to vote on the budget and tax rate. City Council minutes, Sept. 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026

Borrowing for city projects

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council approved up to $26.9 million in certificates of obligation, debt that does not need voter approval.

What's on the tableThe council will oversee these projects and decide how to pay for future ones, by certificates of obligation or bond elections.

The largest share pays to turn Kirby Middle School into a police headquarters and municipal court. City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
The package also funds Fire Station No. 4 renovations, repairs at The Falls and completion of the Circle Trail. City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
Total debt service over the 20-year term was projected at about $40.8 million. City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026
City finance staff said the borrowing would not require a property tax rate increase. City Council minutes, May 19, 2026 · May 19, 2026

Lake Ringgold and water supply

Where it standsThe city is pursuing federal permits for Lake Ringgold, a proposed reservoir in Clay County opposed by some landowners.

What's on the tableThe council will decide on further spending for Lake Ringgold and on any other water sources.

The city says Lake Ringgold is the last viable reservoir site for Wichita Falls and the surrounding area. City of Wichita Falls
During the 2010 to 2015 drought, the city's total water supply fell below 19% of capacity. City of Wichita Falls
The city designated $3.053 million for Freese and Nichols to pursue the federal permits. KFDX · Feb 4, 2025
The Region B Water Planning Board voted in 2025 to move the Lake Ringgold project forward, with one member opposed. KAUZ News Channel 6 · Oct 1, 2025

Flooding and drainage

Where it standsEast side residents have pressed the council on flooding, and the city has hired HDR to study flood mitigation options.

What's on the tableThe council will choose which flood projects to pursue and how to pay for them.

The city has begun a comprehensive review of its Drainage Master Plan. City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
The council approved a $298,700 task order with HDR Engineering for flood mitigation alternatives on June 16, 2026. City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
The HDR study focuses on the Wichita River and East Plum Creek corridors. City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 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. Should Wichita Falls welcome large data center campuses like the Skybox project?
2. Should the city allow a data center campus on Airport Drive near homes?
3. Who should the city's economic development incentives mainly go to?
4. Should the council borrow for projects like a police headquarters through certificates of obligation, without a bond election?
5. Should Lake Ringgold be the city's plan for its next water supply?
6. Should basic services like streets, drainage and water lines come before new amenity projects?

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 Wichita FallsOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsCity of Wichita FallsOct 19, 2026
Last day to apply for a mail ballot (received)City of Wichita FallsOct 23, 2026
Early voting endsCity of Wichita FallsOct 30, 2026
Election DayCity of Wichita FallsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Robert Brooks, Austin Cobb, Whitney Flack4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

The City Council has a mayor, five members elected by district and one at-large member. City of Wichita Falls
The mayor and council members serve three-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms in the same office. City of Wichita Falls Charter, Article V
A candidate must win a majority of all votes cast for the office; otherwise the council orders a runoff between the top two. City of Wichita Falls Charter, Article V
The mayor has all the powers and duties of other council members and presides at council meetings. City of Wichita Falls Charter, Article VII: Procedure of the City Council
District 3 Councilman Jeff Browning is term-limited, so the District 3 seat is open. KAUZ News Channel 6 · Jul 14, 2026

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