Nearly all of Corpus Christi City Council is on the 2022 ballot. Here are the candidates.

Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times
·3 min read

Nearly the entire slate of City Council is in the hands of voters.

With the exception of two district seats, incumbents all face challengers this election season, meaning that the makeup of the council could look nearly unchanged or completely different in 2023.

Corpus Christi City Hall, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.
Corpus Christi City Hall, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022.

The council comprises nine seats. Those include mayor, three at-large positions — intended to represent the city in its entirety — and five members representing each of the city’s five districts.

Residents in each district have the opportunity to select at least five people to the council: mayor, three at-large councilmembers and a representative for the district in which a voter lives.

How residents make their picks will influence local taxes, basic services — think water delivery and park maintenance — as well as the overall direction of the city, such as long-term development and priorities.

Early voting continues through Nov. 4, with Election Day on Nov. 8.

More:When does early voting start? Here's your 2022 midterm election guide for South Texas

Candidates this year total 22. Ben Molina, current District 2 representative, and Greg Smith, current District 4 representative, are not seeking reelection.

Those seeking office are listed below in order of ballot appearance. Ages and occupations were self-reported by candidates, either in city records or in communications with the Caller-Times.

Mayor

Paulette Guajardo (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Mayor

  • Age: 50

John Wright

  • Occupation: Roofer/crane operator

  • Age: 48

At-large

Jim Klein

  • Occupation: History professor, Del Mar College

  • Age: 58

Mike Pusley (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Retired

  • Age: 71

Rene Cervantes

  • Occupation: Former chief of police

  • Age: 58

Michael Hunter (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Business consultant, Elizondo - Hunter Consulting

  • Age: 34

Nancy Vera

  • Occupation: President, American Federation of Teachers

  • Age: 59

John Martinez (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Attorney, Hilliard, Martinez, Gonzales LLP

  • Age: 49

Rachel Caballero

  • Occupation: Self-employed, small bookkeeping and light accounting business

  • Age: 46

John Garcia

  • Occupation: Director of hotel sales and marketing at the Comfort Suites

  • Age: 46

District 1

Everett Roy

  • Occupation: Branch president of ValueBank Texas

  • Age: 59

Tracy McCall

  • Occupation: Engineering business consultant

  • Age: 40

Billy Lerma (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Retired, U.S. Postal Service

  • Age: 64

District 2

Sylvia Campos

  • Occupation: Part-time organizer, For the Greater Good (organization)

  • Age: 65

Brian Rosas

  • Occupation: Aircraft mechanic

  • Age: 48

Mark Scott

  • Occupation: President, San Jacinto Title Services Coastal Bend region

  • Age: 62

More:Corpus Christi Dist. 2 Councilman Ben Molina not running for reelection

District 3

Roland Barrera (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Insurance agent, owner of Roland Barrera Insurance

  • Age: 56

Armon Alex

  • Occupation: Co-executive director of the Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit; co-director of Youth Engagement for the Gulf Reach Institute

  • Age: 22

Eric Cantu

  • Occupation: Owner of towing company and entertainment venues

  • Age: 37

District 4

Dan Suckley

  • Occupation: Senior lending officer at American Bank

  • Age: 55

More:A City Council incumbent has dropped his bid for reelection. Here's who will be on the ballot.

District 5

Christopher Hegg

  • Occupation: Tech venturist, owner of Phoenix Technology Consulting

  • Age: 39

Gil Hernandez (incumbent)

  • Occupation: Consultant, food and beverage industry

  • Age: 53

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Almost all Corpus Christi City Council on 2022 election ballot