Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Councilmember, District 1 – Unexpired Term

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Denton
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked4-way race
Ward FranzNonpartisan
Sunny BusbySunny BusbyNonpartisan
Michael HerronNonpartisan
Kris CoxNonpartisan
On ballot as
Ward Franz
Sunny Busby
Michael Herron
Kris Cox
Current role
Not found
Clinical nutritionist and small business owner
Founder and president, Rhema Tax Services; founder and senior pastor, Purpose Church of Denton
Co-founder, Denton Left
Background
  • Master's in religious education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Bachelor's, Southwest Baptist University
  • Originally from Missouri; moved to Denton in June 2025 (per Denton Record-Chronicle)
  • MBA and MS in clinical nutrition (per campaign)
  • Former teacher and assistant principal (per Denton Record-Chronicle)
  • District 1 resident for over a decade (per campaign)
  • B.S. in business management, University of Phoenix (2007) (per April 2026 Denton Record-Chronicle candidate Q&A)
  • MBA, University of Phoenix (2009) (per same Q&A)
  • U.S. Army Reserve (1988–96) (per same Q&A)
  • Attended Denton public schools, K-12 (per campaign)
  • B.A. in political science, University of North Texas (2017) (per April 2026 Denton Record-Chronicle candidate Q&A)
  • Former after-school counselor and supervisor, Denton Parks and Recreation Department
Experience
  • Former director, Missouri Division of Tourism
  • Later director of sports tourism, Explore Siouxland, Sioux City, Iowa
  • Missouri House of Representatives, District 151 (2005–2013); Republican
  • Member, Denton Area Wellness Coalition (per candidate, to Denton Record-Chronicle)
  • Over 30 years of management experience (per campaign)
  • Ran for this seat (May 2, 2026 election); 29% of the vote
  • Leadership trainer, banking-industry executives and upper-level management (1990–2015) (per April 2026 Q&A)
  • Ran for this seat (May 2, 2026 election); 15.4% of the vote
Top priorities
  • "Most Denton residents are not living at the political extremes. They are in the middle" and want city government "to focus on practical solutions"
  • "Being new means I am not beholden to special interests, political factions, or longstanding alliances on either side"
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle he prides himself on "listening to everybody"
  • Data centers: "A moratorium is a necessary pause, but not a permanent fix."
  • Accessibility: "As Denton grows, our commitment to accessibility must grow with it."
  • Flock license-plate cameras: "they have no place in a free community"
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle homelessness is "definitely a concern for our area"
  • Pledges on his campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Protect neighborhoods from inappropriate development."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Support Police, Fire and EMS in personnel, equipment, training and mental & physical health & wellness needs."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Call for discussion of a temporary moratorium on multi-family permit applications."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Reduce the tax rate by shrinking expenditures, expanding revenue sources through Economic Development (ED)."
  • Campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "expanding municipal housing initiatives and implementing robust renter protections"
  • Same undated campaign site: "We stand for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize."
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle in August 2026 he would oppose "any expansion of data centers" and work on "bringing back Afterschool"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: To the Denton Record-Chronicle, August 2026: "We are growing, and we need to accommodate that growth, not just with housing but also with nutrition"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site, on Flock license-plate cameras: "they have no place in a free community"
  • Property taxes and budget: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Reduce the tax rate by shrinking expenditures, expanding revenue sources through Economic Development (ED)."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Protect neighborhoods from inappropriate development."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Support Police, Fire and EMS in personnel, equipment, training and mental & physical health & wellness needs."
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): calls for "infrastructure projects that prioritize long-term community value over corporate interests"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
sunnyfordenton.com
michaelherronfordenton.com
krisfordenton.com

Ward Franz

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Ward Franz
Current role
Not found
Background
  • Master's in religious education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Bachelor's, Southwest Baptist University
  • Originally from Missouri; moved to Denton in June 2025 (per Denton Record-Chronicle)
Experience
  • Former director, Missouri Division of Tourism
  • Later director of sports tourism, Explore Siouxland, Sioux City, Iowa
  • Missouri House of Representatives, District 151 (2005–2013); Republican
Top priorities
  • "Most Denton residents are not living at the political extremes. They are in the middle" and want city government "to focus on practical solutions"
  • "Being new means I am not beholden to special interests, political factions, or longstanding alliances on either side"
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle he prides himself on "listening to everybody"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: No public statement found
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Sunny Busby

Sunny Busby

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Sunny Busby
Current role
Clinical nutritionist and small business owner
Background
  • MBA and MS in clinical nutrition (per campaign)
  • Former teacher and assistant principal (per Denton Record-Chronicle)
  • District 1 resident for over a decade (per campaign)
Experience
  • Member, Denton Area Wellness Coalition (per candidate, to Denton Record-Chronicle)
  • Over 30 years of management experience (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • Data centers: "A moratorium is a necessary pause, but not a permanent fix."
  • Accessibility: "As Denton grows, our commitment to accessibility must grow with it."
  • Flock license-plate cameras: "they have no place in a free community"
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle homelessness is "definitely a concern for our area"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: To the Denton Record-Chronicle, August 2026: "We are growing, and we need to accommodate that growth, not just with housing but also with nutrition"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site, on Flock license-plate cameras: "they have no place in a free community"
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
sunnyfordenton.com

Michael Herron

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Michael Herron
Current role
Founder and president, Rhema Tax Services; founder and senior pastor, Purpose Church of Denton
Background
  • B.S. in business management, University of Phoenix (2007) (per April 2026 Denton Record-Chronicle candidate Q&A)
  • MBA, University of Phoenix (2009) (per same Q&A)
  • U.S. Army Reserve (1988–96) (per same Q&A)
  • Attended Denton public schools, K-12 (per campaign)
Experience
  • Ran for this seat (May 2, 2026 election); 29% of the vote
  • Leadership trainer, banking-industry executives and upper-level management (1990–2015) (per April 2026 Q&A)
Top priorities
  • Pledges on his campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Protect neighborhoods from inappropriate development."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Support Police, Fire and EMS in personnel, equipment, training and mental & physical health & wellness needs."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Call for discussion of a temporary moratorium on multi-family permit applications."
  • Same undated pledge list: "Reduce the tax rate by shrinking expenditures, expanding revenue sources through Economic Development (ED)."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Reduce the tax rate by shrinking expenditures, expanding revenue sources through Economic Development (ED)."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Protect neighborhoods from inappropriate development."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: Campaign site pledge (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "Support Police, Fire and EMS in personnel, equipment, training and mental & physical health & wellness needs."
Endorsements
None found in our research

Kris Cox

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Kris Cox
Current role
Co-founder, Denton Left
Background
  • B.A. in political science, University of North Texas (2017) (per April 2026 Denton Record-Chronicle candidate Q&A)
  • Former after-school counselor and supervisor, Denton Parks and Recreation Department
Experience
  • Ran for this seat (May 2, 2026 election); 15.4% of the vote
Top priorities
  • Campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): "expanding municipal housing initiatives and implementing robust renter protections"
  • Same undated campaign site: "We stand for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize."
  • Told the Denton Record-Chronicle in August 2026 he would oppose "any expansion of data centers" and work on "bringing back Afterschool"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: Campaign site (undated; also his site in the May 2026 race for this seat): calls for "infrastructure projects that prioritize long-term community value over corporate interests"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
krisfordenton.com

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