City Council, Place 3 - Texas Ballot Compare

Alyssa Garza

Nonpartisan Incumbent

On ballot as: Alyssa Garza
Current role: San Marcos City Council member, Place 3 (first elected 2020)
Background: B.S., applied sociology, Texas State (per candidate)
M.A., sociology, Texas State (per candidate)
Director of Public Health and Safety, Mano Amiga (per candidate)
Born and raised in Laredo (per candidate)
Moved to San Marcos in 2008 for college (per candidate)
Experience: Has served as mayor pro tem and deputy mayor pro tem (per candidate)
Has served as chair, Criminal Justice Reform Committee (per candidate)
San Marcos representative, Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership board (per candidate)
San Marcos representative, Community Action, Inc. board (per candidate)
Top priorities: "Affordability, infrastructure, public safety and responsible growth are obvious priorities"
"making local government easier to navigate and influence"
"I supported prohibiting data centers because the potential benefits did not justify costs to our water, energy and environment"
"Our greatest challenge is complacency: accepting incremental progress when our neighbors deserve more"
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: Asked about the budget shortfall at a Sept. 17 forum, said of the city's budget process: "the whole process is fundamentally flawed."
Growth and infrastructure: In a Community Impact Q&A: "I supported prohibiting data centers because the potential benefits did not justify costs to our water, energy and environment."
Flooding and drainage: Wants the city to "create a public guide to what people can expect and where to get help during a flood, freeze, or other emergency."
Public safety: On Flock license-plate cameras: "I publicly opposed adding more cameras and voted against the expansion."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Jane Garnette Hughson

Nonpartisan

On ballot as: Jane Garnette Hughson
Current role: Mayor of San Marcos (since November 2018; elected 2018, reelected 2020, 2022 and 2024)
Background: B.S. in Education, Southwest Texas State University (1975); mathematics major (per candidate)
San Marcos High School graduate (1972) (per candidate)
Retired, Texas State University (33 years) (per candidate)
Former senior business process analyst, Texas State University, among other roles (per candidate)
San Marcos-area native (per candidate)
Experience: San Marcos City Council member (May 1996–May 2002; November 2014–November 2018)
Planning and Zoning Commission (1990–1996) (per candidate)
Alliance Regional Water Authority board (current) (per candidate)
Capital Area Council of Governments executive committee (current) (per candidate)
Top priorities: "Protect our river, environment, and neighborhoods"
"Participate in economic development opportunities that bring us good-paying jobs"
"Manage growth so that there are housing options and opportunities for our residents"
"Make workforce development efforts a priority so residents can learn/upgrade skills to qualify for better-paying jobs"
Says her "institutional knowledge will help provide continuity, informed decision-making, and effective leadership"
Tidbits: Property taxes and budget: In a San Marcos Area Chamber questionnaire, on the city budget: "finding additional significant savings will be difficult without detrimentally affecting services for our residents."
Growth and infrastructure: Names the city's greatest challenge as "Managing growth while balancing residential, commercial, and industrial development."
Flooding and drainage: In a San Marcos Area Chamber questionnaire, lists "flood prevention" among the things she has supported.
Public safety: On the city's Flock license-plate camera contract: "I spoke against it and I voted in the majority to say NO to Flock."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: janehughson.org