Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Merida Gonzalez Forrest

Candidate · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Corpus Christi

Council Member, District 5

Merida Gonzalez Forrest

Merida Gonzalez Forrest

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Merida Gonzalez Forrest
Current role
Sales and accounting (per city's candidate list)
Background
  • Born and raised in Corpus Christi (per campaign)
  • Mary Carroll High School graduate (per campaign)
  • Associate of Arts in business administration, Del Mar College (per campaign)
  • BBA in accounting, (Southwest) Texas State University (per campaign)
  • Seven years in accounting in Austin before returning to Corpus Christi (per campaign)
Experience
  • Worked as sales tax coordinator, Whataburger Corporate (per campaign)
  • Later worked in accounting, Airgas Southwest (per campaign)
  • Has worked in public accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and campaign finance reporting and compliance (per campaign)
  • Volunteer, The Free Store (per campaign)
  • Participant, Homelessness Point-in-Time Count (per campaign)
Top priorities
  • "I support a diversified water supply that balances responsible desalination, sustainable groundwater"
  • "I support responsible offshore intake and discharge over Inner Harbor location."
  • "We need financial responsibility before committing to decades of debt to ensure our water security."
  • "Support diverse affordable housing and transitional housing programs"
  • "I support maintaining strong General Fund support for police and fire departments"
  • "growing locally owned businesses, attracting diverse, high-quality jobs not only in heavy industry but also in other sectors"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: "We need financial responsibility before committing to decades of debt to ensure our water security."
  • Growth and infrastructure: Caller-Times questionnaire: "I do not support the Inner Harbor seawater desalination plant." She adds: "I support responsible desalination, offshore intake and discharge into the Gulf."
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: "I support maintaining strong General Fund support for police and fire departments to recruit, retain, train, and equip the personnel needed to keep our neighborhoods safe"
Endorsements
  • Texas Campaign for the Environment (VoteClean.org PAC)
Campaign website
meridaforccd5.com