Texas Ballot Compare

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Nonpartisan voter guide · Texas

County Clerk

Race · November 3, 2026 general election

Lubbock County
Vote for oneResearched · fact-checked
Sandy GarciaRepublican
Kerri Poeling PadillaKerri Poeling PadillaDemocratic
On ballot as
Sandy Garcia
Kerri Poeling Padilla
Current role
Office manager and deputy clerk, Lubbock County Clerk's Office
Nurse
Background
  • County Clerk's Office, more than 24 years (per candidate)
  • Office manager for more than 10 of those years (per candidate)
  • Lubbock High School graduate
  • Covenant School of Nursing graduate (2007)
  • Attended Texas Tech University
  • Lifelong Lubbock resident (per candidate)
Experience
  • Lubbock County Bail Bond Board (since 2006) (per candidate)
  • Bail Bond Board secretary, past ten years (per candidate)
  • Served on the county search committee for a new case management system (per candidate)
  • Helped configure that system (per candidate)
  • Running to succeed County Clerk Kelly Pinion, who did not seek re-election
  • Nurse for 18 years; healthcare worker for 25 (per candidate, Ballotpedia survey)
Top priorities
  • "Ensure the office is fully staffed."
  • "Conduct a thorough review of all office procedures."
  • "I plan to collaborate with our IT department to find ways to improve online access to our records."
  • "Providing accurate and honest documentation of our history, property, Life, Death, and Marriage records"
  • "Providing resources for those who have difficulty accessing records they need"
  • Wants to work with the elections office so "that EVERYONE has access to the polls during elections"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal primary questionnaire (Feb. 2026): "I am dedicated to operating within the allocated limits and eager to explore ways to cut costs and increase staff efficiency."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Lubbock Lights primary Q&A (Feb. 2026): "As Lubbock County continues to grow, it is essential we increase staffing levels" in the clerk's office
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Ballotpedia survey, said she is passionate about "Economic Development and the building of the newest parts of OUR community"
  • 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

Sandy Garcia

Republican
On ballot as
Sandy Garcia
Current role
Office manager and deputy clerk, Lubbock County Clerk's Office
Background
  • County Clerk's Office, more than 24 years (per candidate)
  • Office manager for more than 10 of those years (per candidate)
Experience
  • Lubbock County Bail Bond Board (since 2006) (per candidate)
  • Bail Bond Board secretary, past ten years (per candidate)
  • Served on the county search committee for a new case management system (per candidate)
  • Helped configure that system (per candidate)
  • Running to succeed County Clerk Kelly Pinion, who did not seek re-election
Top priorities
  • "Ensure the office is fully staffed."
  • "Conduct a thorough review of all office procedures."
  • "I plan to collaborate with our IT department to find ways to improve online access to our records."
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: In a Lubbock Avalanche-Journal primary questionnaire (Feb. 2026): "I am dedicated to operating within the allocated limits and eager to explore ways to cut costs and increase staff efficiency."
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Lubbock Lights primary Q&A (Feb. 2026): "As Lubbock County continues to grow, it is essential we increase staffing levels" in the clerk's office
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found
Kerri Poeling Padilla

Kerri Poeling Padilla

Democratic
On ballot as
Kerri Poeling Padilla
Current role
Nurse
Background
  • Lubbock High School graduate
  • Covenant School of Nursing graduate (2007)
  • Attended Texas Tech University
  • Lifelong Lubbock resident (per candidate)
Experience
  • Nurse for 18 years; healthcare worker for 25 (per candidate, Ballotpedia survey)
Top priorities
  • "Providing accurate and honest documentation of our history, property, Life, Death, and Marriage records"
  • "Providing resources for those who have difficulty accessing records they need"
  • Wants to work with the elections office so "that EVERYONE has access to the polls during elections"
Tidbits
  • Property taxes and budget: No public statement found
  • Growth and infrastructure: In a Ballotpedia survey, said she is passionate about "Economic Development and the building of the newest parts of OUR community"
  • Flooding and drainage: No public statement found
  • Public safety: No public statement found
Endorsements
None found in our research
Campaign website
Not found

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