Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22, for city, school board elections

Early voting begins Tuesday, April 22, and continues through Tuesday, April 29 for the May 3 municipal and school board elections throughout Gonzales County.

Sites for early voting include the Randle Rather Building, 427 St. George St., Gonzales; the Nixon Community Center, 302 E Central St., Nixon; and the Waelder City Hall, 300 US Hwy 90 W, Waelder.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays during that time. The deadline to apply for a ballot by mail (received and not postmarked) is April 22.

Election day voting will be held at the same locations on Saturday, May 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gonzales County Elections Administrator Gwen Schaefer is reminding all voters that, per Election Law 61.010, a person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place or within 100 feet of any outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located.

Examples of what can’t be worn:

Anything with the mascot for Gonzales, Nixon, Smiley, and Waelder (it’s the same as the elephant or donkey for Republican and Democrat party), so no Apache apparel for Gonzales, Mustang apparel for Nixon/Smiley, Wildcat for Waelder.

Anything that has “city and/or ISD” involved in an election. A good way to remember and look at it, in this case, the “city and ISD” that is having an election is the “political party.”

Gonzales city

There are two simultaneous elections being held by the City of Gonzales. The first is the regular election for mayor. Incumbent Mayor S.H. “Steve” Sucher will face a challenge from local businessman Isaac Anzaldua.

District 4 voters only also will have the opportunity to vote on the recall of District 4 Councilmember Ronda Miller after a petition was submitted to and accepted by the city.

Gonzales ISD

There are two spots on the ballot for Gonzales ISD in the May 3 election: District 1 and District 2. In District 1, incumbent trustee Gloria Torres will face a challenge from Alejandra “Ale” Hernandez. In District 2, incumbent trustee Justin Schwausch will be challenged by Rocky Gallegos.

Nixon city

Four individuals have signed up to run for the three available at-large spots on the Nixon City Council. They are incumbents Patsy Scherrer and Patricia Dingler, Jessica Garcia and TJ Lopez.

Smiley

Three at-large positions on the Smiley City Council are available on the ballot and there is a large field of candidates who signed up to run. In addition to incumbents Lori Price, Daniel Benavides and Diane Moreno, other candidates running are Wayne Dauer, Michael Mills, Michelle Mills, Michaela Mills and Elisa Douglas.

Waelder

Following the 2024 death of Mayor Roy Tovar, incumbent City Councilmember Mike Harris was appointed mayor pro tem and acting mayor until a special election could be held on May 3. Harris has filed to run to finish out Tovar’s remaining one-year unexpired term and will face Diana C. Olmos. If Harris wins, the council would appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of his term until May 2026.

The regular election sees three at-large spots for a two-year term that would expire May 2027. In addition to incumbents Martha Melchor, Rachel Vargas Martinez and Marie Ibarra Almaraz, others running include Dora Martinez, Margie Zapata, Curtis Hadnot Jr. and Adam Ibarra.

Elections for Nixon-Smiley CISD and Waelder ISD were canceled due to unopposed candidates.