MIDLAND, Texas — Early voting starts Monday, April 22, for the May 4 special election that will fill the vacant at-large Midland City Council seat left by late councilman Dan Corrales. On Tuesday, all five candidates for that seat participated in a forum put on by the Midland Liberty Leadership Council.
Ben Roberts, Cheston Blank, John Burkholder, Eric Davidson and James “Bull” Henry are all vying for the seat.
“This city council seat is extremely important," said Amy Stretcher-Burkes, Midland City Council representative for District 4.
During forum conversations, the five candidates discussed everything from why they are running to challenges Midland faces in the future.
“Getting the council as a cohesive unit," Henry said. "Again, there’s been a lot of division [and] separation amongst the council members. I’d like to see that come back as a single unit to where we’re operating as a unit. We’re agreeing to disagree, and then in the end making the choices and decisions that are in the best interest of everybody involved.”
“I want a place where my children can come back to, start a family and raise their own children," Davidson said. "A city that’s focused on job creators and wanting to recruit businesses to come here. And, lastly, a city that’s willing to defend our oil and gas industry because it’s crucial to our economy and it’s crucial to our national security.”
“I feel like God’s given me an ability to see things from a financial standpoint and from a leadership standpoint, and I should use those characteristics that he has given me to lend a hand to the city and help solve some of our problems," Burkholder said.
“Cost of living, lack of housing and the reason for that is that this issue effects every other issue in the city," Blank said. "Also, as the country as a whole.”
“The city has quite a large budget, but it also has many things that we’re supposed to be doing with that money as well," Roberts said. "Things like the hotel (Hotel Santa Rita) are just irresponsible in my opinion to spend that sort of amount of money on when we have potholes everywhere and trash everywhere and we have all these things that citizens are legitimately concerned about.”
Micah Dunn of the Midland Liberty Leadership Council helped to hold this forum. She understands the importance behind this special election.
“Local governance is the most important – that is where your vote is most heard – and also these decisions that your city council is making are very important and effect you directly," Dunn said. "And, so, it’s very important to be engaged with your city councilman and engaged in your local elections.”
The winner of the special election will serve out the remainder of Corrales' term, which expires in January of 2025.
To watch NewsWest 9's full interviews with four of the candidates, click here.
Early voting for the special election goes from Monday, April 22, until Tuesday, April 30. Election day is on Saturday, May 4.