City Elections to Decide the Future of San Angelo

Election Day for the City Council representatives and the San Angelo Chief of Police is just around the corner on Saturday, May 7. With early voting having just closed on May 3, we reached out to the candidates to hear their final thoughts on their campaigns during this critical time. 

Here is what many of them had to say.

Chief of Police Tim Vasquez

Chief Vasquez said he has continued to help put out yard signs and is still receiving requests for them at this crucial stage in the election.

“I think the people need to vote, and [they] should vote their conscience, but I also think people will look at all the facts being presented,” he said. “Everybody is a nice guy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a good administrator.”   

Vasquez asked voters to look at the messages that have been presented over the course of the election, and he wanted to reassure them that he still loves what he does. He is also cautiously optimistic about the results of the campaign.

“I am very blessed and thankful of all the support that I am continuously getting,” said the chief.

Lt. Frank Carter

Lt. Carter said, “I am humbled and could not be happier with my campaign manager, support committee, my family and all my supporters who have kept our campaign positive and progressive.”

Carter noted this election process has been a new experience for his campaign manager, support committee and himself.

“We have continued to remain focused on the issues, delivering our message to the voters while keeping a positive attitude," he noted.

Carter and his campaign will continue to reach out to voters through face-to-face contact, social media and with a variety of commercials leading up until Saturday at 7 p.m.

“I am truly humbled by all the support and positive comments," he added. "We will continue to stay focused and reach out to the voters until the polls close Saturday. If you were not able to early vote, I urge you to hit the polls this Saturday, Election Day.”

Jeff Davis

Davis said he has continued to use a variety of advertising strategies going into the final week, including commercials airing on KIDY, KLST and KSAN. There are also nine radio channels airing his campaign message like KJST, KQTC, Lonestar, and a new station, 100.5.

“We are advertising in several newspapers and have sent out 10,000 mailers. We have handed out almost 1,000 handouts,” Davis said. “This very day we continue to make contacts, and we bring the issues along with the solutions to make this happen. We love San Angelo and the citizens, and we believe the sacrifices we have made are well worth everything that we have put into the campaign.”

Davis said he takes a different approach by communicating to voters that he is the only candidate who is not part of the current law enforcement establishment.

“Three of the candidates are from the current establishment, and if you are happy with the way law enforcement is conducted, then you have three choices. If you want something new and improved, vote for me.”

Lt. Mike Hernandez

Lt. Hernandez said he understands he is new to the process of campaigning, but his team met this challenge with an optimistic approach and have continued to do so in the last days of the election.

“Since we are indeed rookies to this process we have simply continued to work diligently to what we started two years ago,” said Hernandez. “We are continuing to work all the way through to the end.”

Hernandez and his team have continued to go door to door, even in the last two weeks of early voting. There has also been a considerable amount of social media coverage being used to reach last minute voters.

His final thoughts regarding his campaign included how much appreciation he has for his team and the effort it takes to keep their message being heard throughout the election.

“I believe the key for us has been to ensure we never wavered in our message,” stated Hernandez. “I would ask the voters to do some research and vote from their hearts. If you do so, you can’t go wrong because, after all, at least you voted and you did your part."

City Council Candidates by Single Member Districts (SMD)

SMD 1: Trinidad Aguirre

Mr. Aguirre said he has continued to talk to voters and has encouraged them to let their voice be heard this election.

His campaign people have continued to attend social events, approach people every day, and use a variety of social media, including Facebook and Nextdoor Neighborhood (to name a few), in order to reach voters. 

 “I will send out one more mailers this week and then leave it in God's hands," said Aguirre.

SMD 3: Harry Thomas

Mr. Thomas said he has made it a priority to reach out to the residents living in his district by going directly to their doors.  

“I have knocked on all of the doors for people who have voted in the last two municipal elections,” said Thomas.

He also said he continues to be a presence at local events like Frontier Day at Fort Concho, Junior League Touch-a-Truck Day, and the local San Angelo Bandits Football game. Thomas also attended the city council meeting this week to address the issues that constituents have told him in the final days of the election.

“I will work very closely with the city staff over the next few days to get some specifics addressed on some areas I might be able to do some work on,” said Thomas.

He reiterated that he always wants citizens to come talk with him one on one regarding any issues they see as important for San Angelo.  

SMD 5 Elizabeth Grindstaff

In the weekends leading up to early voting, Grindstaff said she has visited residents door to door looking to hear what they had to say. Her staff held a picnic on Sunday, May 1, which specifically aimed to communicate with residents living in SMD 5.  

Grindstaff worked directly with the Young Republicans at ASU and the San Angelo Fire Fighters Association to host the event.

TV ads started airing the week prior to early voting’s closing, and will continue to run until Saturday.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday May 7.

SMD 5: Lane Carter

Carter said he continues to reach out to voters by visiting them door to door. Connecting with the voters before May 7 is a main priority for himself and the campaign team.

“I don’t want to leave anybody out," he said. "I’d like to meet [the voters].”

Carter also said advertising through social media and online advertising helped push the momentum during the final stage of his campaign. 

The youngest candidate of the group, Carter wanted to thank everybody for their support, and encouraged all residents to get out and vote this Saturday.

“Let their voices be heard," he noted. "That’s the only way to [bring] change.”  

Note: In the event other candidates respond to our request for their input to this story, we will provide an update for voters.