Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

Mayor

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

City of Wichita Falls
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Scott PoenitzschNonpartisan
Tim ShortNonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
Scott Poenitzsch
Tim Short
Current role
Local business leader; winery operator, Iowa Park (per KAUZ)
Mayor of Wichita Falls (elected November 2023)
Background
  • Tells KAUZ he has run international businesses "as small as $2 million and as high as $400 million"
  • Bachelor's in telecommunications, Texas Tech University (1988) (per city biography)
  • Owner/agent of a State Farm insurance agency (per city biography)
  • Local business owner for more than 25 years (per KAUZ)
Experience
  • Ran for Wichita Falls mayor (2023) (per KAUZ)
  • Three-time president, Wichita Falls Kiwanis Club (per city biography)
  • Two-time president, Hundred Club of Wichita Falls (per city biography)
  • Board member, Meals on Wheels of Wichita County (per city biography)
Top priorities
  • To KAUZ: "I think we need to take a different direction for the city."
  • To KAUZ: "I think there are opportunities to be more business-friendly."
  • To KAUZ: "If you look at our downtown core and some of the other areas, we need help and vision"
  • To KAUZ, on his first term: "economic development, strengthening that relationship with Sheppard" and "the generational water source with Lake Ringgold"
  • To KAUZ: "The goal is to make this place a place where all of our children and grandchildren can stay, can earn a good living, can buy houses"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: To KAUZ: "I think there are opportunities to be more business-friendly." He added: "If you look at our downtown core and some of the other areas, we need help and vision"
  • 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 KAUZ, on his first term: "economic development, strengthening that relationship with Sheppard, and doing all I could to move forward with the generational water source with Lake Ringgold"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Not found

Scott Poenitzsch

Nonpartisan
On ballot as
Scott Poenitzsch
Current role
Local business leader; winery operator, Iowa Park (per KAUZ)
Background
  • Tells KAUZ he has run international businesses "as small as $2 million and as high as $400 million"
Experience
  • Ran for Wichita Falls mayor (2023) (per KAUZ)
Top priorities
  • To KAUZ: "I think we need to take a different direction for the city."
  • To KAUZ: "I think there are opportunities to be more business-friendly."
  • To KAUZ: "If you look at our downtown core and some of the other areas, we need help and vision"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: To KAUZ: "I think there are opportunities to be more business-friendly." He added: "If you look at our downtown core and some of the other areas, we need help and vision"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

Tim Short

Nonpartisan Incumbent
On ballot as
Tim Short
Current role
Mayor of Wichita Falls (elected November 2023)
Background
  • Bachelor's in telecommunications, Texas Tech University (1988) (per city biography)
  • Owner/agent of a State Farm insurance agency (per city biography)
  • Local business owner for more than 25 years (per KAUZ)
Experience
  • Three-time president, Wichita Falls Kiwanis Club (per city biography)
  • Two-time president, Hundred Club of Wichita Falls (per city biography)
  • Board member, Meals on Wheels of Wichita County (per city biography)
Top priorities
  • To KAUZ, on his first term: "economic development, strengthening that relationship with Sheppard" and "the generational water source with Lake Ringgold"
  • To KAUZ: "The goal is to make this place a place where all of our children and grandchildren can stay, can earn a good living, can buy houses"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: To KAUZ, on his first term: "economic development, strengthening that relationship with Sheppard, and doing all I could to move forward with the generational water source with Lake Ringgold"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found