Pasadena City Council Elections: Early Voting Underway

PASADENA, TX -- In just a few days, voters in Pasadena will be flocking to voting booths to make what they hope will be significant and positive change in their city.

What’s on the ballot?

A chance to bring unity to a city council that has seen it’s share of racial strife and division that many believe was driven by Mayor Johnny Isbell, who is in the final weeks of his final term as mayor.

Seven vow to replace him include Council member Pat Van Houte, retired education Gloria Gallegos, former legislators Robert Talton and Gilbert Pena; David Flores, who is the youngest of the candidates, Pasadena businessman JR Moon, and retired Houston Police Detective Jeff Wagner.

All of the city council seats are up for grabs, and most are contested elections, with the exception of the seats in Council Districts C, D, and E.

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In all, there are 17 Pasadena residents who are either hoping to retain their seat on the council, or bring new ideas the city.

But it was the court rulings earlier this year, that made it evident to many inside and outside the city, that change had to happen

Last year, the Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund filed a lawsuit against the City of Pasadena alleging that the city diluted Latino voters by changing the voting scheme for city council representation.

On Jan. 6, District Judge Lee Rosenthal ruled against the city, citing discrimination by Isbell and the city against Latinos, a violation of the Voting Rights Act.

In her ruling, Rosenthal said the city must return to the pre-2013 voting scheme of eight council member districts, versus six districts, and two at-large seats.

See Also: City Of Pasadena Blocked From Using Controversial Voting System By Court Ruling

The ruling was upheld by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and while the city has vowed to appeal, there wasn’t enough time as of the candidates were already signing up for a chance to run for city council.

Among those was Larry Peacock, who is running against Phil Cayten for the District F seat.

Peacock, who is retired, said in a recent news article that change will begin with then council finally decides to not challenge the court ruling, and begin moving forward as a city, as well as making the city government more transparent to the people they are elected to serve.

Other candidates, such as Steve Halvorson and incumbent Bruce Leamon who are both running for th District B seat, are focused on the need for infrastructure improvements.

Like Peacock, both believe the appeal should be dropped.

Early voting in the city begins on April 24 and continues through May 2, and various locations in the city.

The general election will be held May 6.

Click the link to find the City of Pasadena election information, which includes voting times and locations in your area.

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