Latest news with #runoff
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Espinoza pushes for transparency, financial clarity in Abilene runoff campaign
ABILENE, Texas () – Miguel Espinoza Challenger Miguel Espinoza is heading into a runoff election against Incumbent Abilene City Councilmember Kyle McAlister for the Place 5 seat after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the May election. The runoff is set for June 7. McAlister battles to keep his seat in Abilene City Council runoff While Espinoza said the election was intense, he felt very supported throughout. 'What made it really nice is all my supporters were there, all my people that knew me before I even started this journey. So all those people are with me. They're encouraging. They were probably more nervous than I was, which was kind of funny, because I'm excited, you know, it's a blessing. It's a great opportunity. But just to have all my people there, that meant a lot to me,' Espinoza expressed. He anticipated that a runoff might occur with three candidates in the race. 'Having three candidates in the race, you knew that everybody's going to pull votes in their direction. A lot of it was just making sure that we had enough to force the runoff,' Espinoza explained. 'You never know what can happen, like with the voter turnout and all that. So we were excited to push it on to the next round, and hopefully we give it another good push.' Abilene People: Miguel Espinoza Throughout the runoff election, Espinoza stated that numerous campaign contributors and endorsements have been coming in. 'Anytime that you go into a runoff, you need more advertisement, more signs to really help you get over the top. My supporters came out swinging, and they came out with money to help me do that. A lot of endorsement letters to help us push not only people who came out and voted the first time, but also to hopefully get some additional voters to come out and vote for me,' Espinoza said. As Espinoza talks with residents, he notes that most people are eager for change. 'I think just in my conversations with people, they're like, you're a CPA [Certified Public Accountant]. You understand what goes on with the budget. Just here recently, there's been a massive push for financial transparency and understanding what's going on within the city, and having a CPA to really help you explain and see the accounting and somebody who knows this is where the flow of the transaction is going to help explain that that's a big deal to people,' Espinoza shared. As he observes city council meetings, he has noticed that council members tend to use the general fund for various projects. 'What my general understanding is, you know, it frees up a lot of their options, cash flow-wise, what they can do with the money. But just from a budgetary standpoint, what I've noticed, what people are… very hungry to see that allocation, to know that look, money is going there versus it kind of just sitting in the general fund. Money is going to that issue,' Espinoza said. Miguel Espinoza looks to bring fresh perspective to Abilene City Council Espinoza stated that his experience as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) allows him to break down these complex topics easily. 'You're taking very complex federal tax law, and you're trying to explain it to a person in their business, and how that applies to them. It's a natural conversation that I have on a daily basis, so it's normal to me, because that's just the way I see the world. I see it in the debits and credits, the revenues, expenses, everything flowing, all the accounting; that's just the way I see it,' Espinoza explained. 'Whenever it comes to breaking it down for people, I'm like, Well, this is what they're spending, this is where it's going, and this is what's designated for. That's with my experience with nonprofits, too.' Since the runoff, Espinoza has engaged with many Abilene residents to better understand their needs and the town he aims to serve. 'People are excited. I'm excited. To have this opportunity is a huge blessing. But, yeah, just bringing forth energy, just more and more and more conversations you get to have, the more you get to learn about Abilene,' Espinoza expressed. 'Now, if they didn't consider you a serious candidate, they're now taking you a lot more seriously. So they're like, maybe I need to talk to this person, and let me get his perspective on a few more things. So I've had a lot of people reach out on the second kind of go-around. It's been cool to just meet more people and learn what their priorities are, and how they see the political landscape.' Abilene People: Kyle McAlister Something that came to light during the election was that Espinoza has not voted in a municipal election. He says his voting record shouldn't reflect his values and qualifications. 'I don't feel like my qualifications and my skill set reflect my voting record. So, for someone to hold that against me, that's kind of on them, for what they prioritize as a candidate for city council, that's on them to weigh. I would highly encourage people to consider my qualifications as a CPA, somebody who's very active in the community, and if you have any questions, as far as what that means, voting for a CPA, what I do for a living, all the things that I do, nonprofit wise, even at the state level, on the committees that I serve on. Those are things that I'm happy to field and make sure people know about,' Espinoza said. 'But when it comes down to my voting record, I don't feel like that should be weighed against me, especially as somebody who's as young as I am… I would encourage people to get involved in politics early on, but not everybody has that opportunity. I don't think that should be held against somebody as a negative. I think when you do get involved, I think that should be encouraged, and that should be a big positive, instead of a negative.' Espinoza emphasizes transparency, stating he is open to discussing topics of interest with anyone. 'I'm not afraid to open myself up, whether you have a question, I'm more than happy to talk about those issues, whether they're kind of relevant or kind of not. There's certain things that I'm like, 'Well, I would like to stay more focused on the relevant issues, because I feel like that's the most important thing for this election.' But I understand people having questions about your values and your standards for certain things,' Espinoza shared. 'I have no problem discussing that with people, because I want people to know who I am as a person, and I hope that kind of factors into their vote, that they know, hey, this is a person of strong work ethic, and really cares about Abilene, and who's also extremely qualified based upon my resume.' If elected, Espinoza states he would prioritize economic development as opportunities arise in the Key City. 'Abilene is in a strategic position to take advantage of a lot of economic development, and so that's kind of my big motivation for running, is to really help the city take advantage of all these opportunities that are on the table because we're in competition with all these surrounding communities for all of this investment,' Espinoza explained. 'To make sure Abilene is laying the infrastructure and doing the right thing strategically to take advantage of all this economic development that is kind of brewing here. I would love to be a part of that, because I'm going to be in Abilene for a very long time, and hopefully I can serve in serving as an example for my kids and my grandkids that, look, this is a wonderful place to live and to serve your community well, and to take part in whatever your gifts are, apply it to your community and and give back.' FULL VIDEO: Abilene City Council Forum 2025 When asked why people should take a chance on him, Espinoza responded: 'I'm somebody who's going to bring a lot of energy to the table. I'm very financially savvy, and whenever it comes to the budget and the things that really matter to the city operationally, I'm going to be a massive asset there. I think, just representation-wise, I'm going to serve the city well, and just kind of broadening the diverse skill set that's already on the current Council. I think that I'm just gonna bring forth a lot of energy, hard work, and really help the community grow.' McAlister and Espinoza will face off in the June 7 runoff election for the Place 5 seat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voter guide for Tarrant County runoff elections on June 7
For most of Tarrant County, the local election season is over. Yet in Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Kennedale and Mansfield, there's one seat that has gone to a runoff election. For those five Tarrant city councils, there was one race in which no one candidate won over 50% of the votes. So, on June 7, the top two candidates will face off. Early voting starts on Tuesday, May 27, and runs through Tuesday, June 3. Visit the Tarrant County Election Administration for early voting and Election Day polling places. Here's what will be on the ballot and what each candidate promises: In the May 3 election, Brigette Matthis drew in 46.78% of the 838 votes and Keith R. Smith wrangled 41.77%. The third candidate, Willie Glaster got 11.46%. Matthis and Smith will be running against each other in the runoff. Brigette Mathis: Mathis's Facebook page touts that 'it's time for truth and action' and that with Mathis, you can 'be the change.' The page says that residents' safety is her No. 1 priority and that she will talk about the issues the other council members ignore. Examples posted on Mathis's Facebook page include a shortage of police officers, high crime, low morale among current officers, and unqualified, overpaid city officials. Mathis wants to bring integrity and transparency back into the city of Forest Hill. She said in one video that by solving the safety issue, bringing economic growth into the city would be made easier. Keith R. Smith: The incumbent, Smith was elected to the City Council in 2022 and selected as mayor pro tem. According to his biography on the city's website, Smith has focused on literacy for all ages in his 35 plus years as an educator. In his 2022 campaign, he ran 'with a vision of serving the children of our community,' according to his biography. Though he does not have a candidate Facebook page of his own, Forest Hill Mayor Stephanie Boardingham posted that Smith has brought 'unity and great leadership' to the community. Boardingham said Smith supports her as mayor and the rest of the council, unlike the alternative. On May 3, Mia Hall was the front-runner with 46.80% of the 4,966 votes. Daryl R. Davis received 28.49%, Marshall Hobbs 21.57% and Adrian Devine Smith 3.14% of the ballots. Hall and Davis will be on the runoff ballot. Daryl R. Davis: Previously the Crowley school board president, Davis says on his campaign website that he will fight for the community's best interest and will continue to prioritize 'transparency, efficiency, accountability and results.' Davis is the executive pastor of Inspiring Temple of Praise Church and the vice president of workforce development at UpSpire, a nonprofit focused on helping people overcome barriers to employment. He said in a Star-Telegram survey that his focus as a council member would be 'on policies that make life better for the people who live, work and are educated here in District 6—keeping neighborhoods safe, helping families keep more of what they earn, and ensuring that growth benefits the community.' Mia Hall: Hall's website boasts her dedication to service in Fort Worth as a former FWISD principal, former Girls Inc. of Tarrant County board member and current member of the United Way of Tarrant County board. She is a Crowley school board member and previously served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission. Her priorities as a council member would be to keep neighborhoods safe, improve roads and infrastructure, enhance city services, champion education and foster economic development. In Kennedale, Kenneth Michels garnered 47.89% of the 760 votes. Amanda Hollins had 38.55% and Ryon Ray had 13.55%. Michels and Hollins will meet again on the June 7 ballot. Amanda Hollins: With 15 years in law enforcement, Hollins's vision for Kennedale includes strengthening community infrastructure, supporting local businesses, enhancing organizational efficiency, empowering future leaders, and advocating for ethical leadership. Hollins is the president-elect of the East Fort Worth Business Association and the chief operating officer of the nonprofit Cars for Kids. With a commitment to being a voice for the whole community, Hollins said she aims to bring a business-minded, citizen-focused approach to City Council. Kenneth Michels: Elected to City Council in 2022, Michels is a retired Kennedale firefighter. Before joining the City Council, he regularly attended council meetings and was a member of Keep Kennedale Beautiful Committee, Kennedale Parks Board, two Charter Planning Committees and the Utility and Infrastructure Board. He is also an active volunteer in the community. Michels's priorities as a council member are economic development, infrastructure improvements, the maintenance and safety of parks, and continually improving his ability to serve the community. Melisa Perez received 39.79% of the 8,289 votes in the Mansfield Precinct 5 election. Right behind her, Todd A. Simmons received 35.58%. The two will face off again in the runoff election on June 7. The other two candidates, Lance Hood and Eric Rozak got 15.57% and 9.06% of the votes. Melisa Perez: A lifelong Mansfield resident, Perez is running on the pillars of ensuring responsible growth, strengthening public safety and supporting local businesses, according to her website. Perez has served Mansfield in a number of capacities, but namely in the realms of economic development and community and faith-based service. Her vision for Mansfield is to guide the city's long-term growth with thoughtful planning, execution and effective communication with all stakeholders. Todd A. Simmons: Simmons, a financial adviser, has involved himself in the Mansfield community through his church, on Mansfield school district committees and on the Methodist Mansfield Medical Center Advisory Board, according to his response to a Star-Telegram survey. Simmons also said his priorities would be to fully evaluate any project proposed for fiscal and community impact; strive for diversifying Mansfield's tax base and continue to lower the tax rate; ensure the public safety and municipal employees are earning a competitive salary.
Bloomberg
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Tusk Ally, Nationalist Head for Poland Runoff, Exit Poll Shows
A centrist Warsaw mayor and a pro-Donald Trump nationalist came neck-and-neck in the first round of Poland's presidential election, according to an exit poll, in a blow to the pro-European government. Rafal Trzaskowski, an ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is projected to win 30.8% of the vote, the exit poll showed on Sunday. Karol Nawrocki, the candidate of the opposition Law & Justice party, is heading for a second-place finish with 29.1% support. The two candidates will face each other in a runoff on June 1.
