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Five candidates outline priorities at League City council forum ahead of May special election
Summary
Five candidates for a special-election League City City Council seat presented backgrounds and competing priorities at a Chamber-hosted forum, highlighting growth management, public safety, fiscal responsibility and improved communication with residents. Early voting runs April 22–29 and election day is May 3.
Five candidates seeking a League City City Council seat laid out their backgrounds and top priorities at a candidate forum hosted by the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce on April 15.
The forum, moderated by Duena Boswell O'Shell of the Boswell Law Firm and livestreamed by Clear Life Media, featured opening statements from Erin Avalos, Kirsten Garcia, Scott Higginbotham, Charlie Keeler and Lisa Welty. Each candidate emphasized responsiveness to residents while offering different emphases: fiscal restraint and process (Scott Higginbotham), community outreach and balanced West-side development (Kirsten Garcia), public-safety and infrastructure basics (Lisa Welty), accessibility and constituent listening (Erin Avalos), and local business and community involvement (Charlie Keeler).
Why it matters: The candidates will shape decisions about development, infrastructure, public safety and the city budget. Early voting begins April 22 and runs through April 29; election day is May 3, the moderator reminded attendees.
Several candidates said the council's most important duties are fiscal oversight and long-term planning. Scott Higginbotham described the council as "the board of directors for the city," noting the municipal budget is "around $380,000,000 next year." Kirsten Garcia said a council member must work "as part of a team" and be available to a broad cross-section of residents. Lisa Welty emphasized basic services, saying public safety and reliable city services must come first. Erin Avalos and Charlie Keeler stressed accessibility and constituent service, with Avalos urging more resident feedback via surveys and in-person outreach.
Candidates also summarized their relevant experience. Higginbotham highlighted service on the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee and the Ethics Review Board and cited business ownership as preparation for budget oversight. Garcia cited classroom teaching and service on the League City library board and homeowners association; Welty cited nursing administration and volunteer leadership; Avalos described management experience and volunteer sports involvement; Keeler described construction and local sports-organization volunteer work.
During the forum the candidates answered a range of questions about growth, the West-side master development plan, infrastructure and citizen engagement. They frequently described the need to balance residential growth with commercial tax base expansion, to maintain public safety resources and to improve two-way communication so underrepresented residents feel heard.
The forum was organized by the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce and opened with an invocation by Pastor Rob Bailey. The moderator and forum organizers urged attendees to vote in the special election, reminding the public that early voting starts April 22 and the election is May 3.
