2026 Election Candidate Questionnaire

Here are the questions.

If you are running for city council in May 2026, these nine questions are for you. Every candidate in every city I cover will receive the same questionnaire. The questions are designed to give voters real answers about who you are, what you know, and how you plan to lead.

How to Submit

Email your written answers to the address listed at the bottom of this page. Use your city name as the subject line (for example: "Italy" or "Trinidad"). Answer each question by number.

Take as long as you need to prepare thoughtful, substantive responses. Your answers will be held privately until every candidate in your city has had the opportunity to respond. Once all responses are collected, I will publish them together so voters can compare candidates side by side.

No candidate sees another candidate's answers before submission. The process is the same for everyone.

I will be reaching out to candidates individually as well. If you are ready, do not wait for me.

The Questions

General Leadership and Vision

1. I'm new to the community and I don't know anything about you. What do you tell me?

2. What inspired you to run for office?

3. What do you feel is the most important issue facing your city today, and how do you plan to address it?

Community Engagement

4. How do you feel about the way city leadership currently communicates with the community? Are you satisfied with the level of public communication? Yes or no, and explain why.

5. Some cities in Texas have social media policies that restrict councilmembers from commenting publicly about city business. There is a valid concern about accidentally creating a walking quorum, but other Texas cities navigate this appropriately and allow councilmembers to make factual public statements without blanket restrictions. What are your thoughts? Should elected officials be able to communicate openly with residents on social media?

6. How do you plan to make sure taxpayers feel heard and included in city government beyond the election cycle?

City Operations and Finances

7. Every city has infrastructure needs and financial pressures. How familiar are you with your city's current budget, and what is your plan for keeping the city financially healthy while addressing the projects and maintenance that residents are counting on?

8. Many cities in Texas have Economic Development Corporations funded by sales tax revenue. These organizations often accumulate significant cash reserves and property assets while the city's general fund runs tight. What are your thoughts on how your city's EDC should be operating, and what role should the council play in making sure those tax dollars are working for the community?

Final Thoughts

9. You're at a meeting on the dais during councilmember comments. The meeting was productive, but some members of the audience are upset with how you voted on certain issues. What do you say to bring the room together?

For the Voters

Pay attention to who participates and who doesn't. Pay attention to who answers with specifics and who answers with generalities. These nine questions are not trick questions. They are the baseline of what any voter should expect a candidate to be able to answer before asking for your vote.

The responses will be published before the May election. Read them. Compare the answers. Make an informed decision at the ballot box.