HomeRunning for Local Office

Running for Local Office

Introduction
City of Richardson Mayor and City Council
Richardson ISD Board of Trustees
Plano ISD Board of Trustees
Collin College Board of Trustees
Dallas College Board of Trustees
City of Dallas Mayor and City Council
City of Garland Mayor and City Council

INTRODUCTION

In our area, local elected bodies typically hold nonpartisan elections, meaning that candidates do not list an affiliation with a political party. Without knowing the candidates’ party affiliations, voters choose the candidate they think is best qualified to fill the position.

Before deciding to run for local office, candidates should familiarize themselves with the qualifications and responsibilities of the position. They should attend meetings of the governmental body and learn as much as possible about the constituents they would represent and the issues that are important to them. Potential candidates should also make sure they meet any residency requirements for the position they seek.

Local elections are typically overseen by a person assigned by the governmental body to do so, such as a City Secretary or school district administrator. Submission of regular financial reports relating to campaign donations is required.

CITY OF RICHARDSON MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

Requirements

Click here to see if you meet the requirements to run for Richardson Mayor or City Council. Section 4.06 of the City Charter requires each candidate to be nominated by petition.

Responsibilities

Council members are responsible for:

Hiring the City Manager
Appointing the City Attorney, City Secretary, Municipal Court Judges, City Health Officer and citizens to the City’s boards and commissions
Passing City ordinances
Planning for capital improvements
Issuing and selling municipal bonds
Purchasing and selling property
Establishing City departments
Determining City services
Approving the annual budget
Setting the City’s tax rate

The City Manager is responsible for the City’s daily operations, hiring department heads, supervising the City personnel, directing and coordinating all municipal programs, enforcing all municipal laws and ordinances, and recommending an annual budget.

Elections

The Richardson City Council consists of the Mayor, two at-large seats and four place, or district, seats. Though members representing Places 1 thru 4 must reside in those areas, all members of the City Council are elected at-large by voters. Once elected, council members choose the Mayor Pro Tem from among the elected members. All City Council seats carry two-year terms and are up for election during May of every odd year. Term limits for membership on the City Council are limited to 6 terms, or 12 consecutive years.

Click here for an interactive map of Richardson City Council districts.

RICHARDSON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Requirements

Click here to see if you meet the requirements to run for RISD Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

The Board of Trustees has the executive power and duty to govern and oversee the management of RISD. Acting as a collective body, the Board sets the direction for the school district. Some of the Board’s general responsibilities include:

Setting district policies and supporting administrators and teachers in the execution of those policies.
Employing and evaluating the superintendent.
Adopting the annual budget.
Levying/collecting taxes and issuing bonds.
Performing specific duties imposed by the state.

Elections

Richardson Independent School District voters elect board members to serve three-year staggered terms, helping to ensure that the board always includes experienced members. Five trustees represent specific geographic areas (known as Single Member Districts), while two At-Large trustees represent the entire district. Service on the board is voluntary and members must complete an extensive orientation as well as continued training throughout their terms.

The Richardson ISD conducts an election every year to elect some members to the Board of Trustees. The election will be canceled if all the positions on the ballot are uncontested.

In January 2019, the RISD Board of Trustees voted to change from having all 7 trustees elected at-large to having a 5-2 system:

5 Single-Member Districts
2 At-Large Places

For Single-Member Districts 1-5, you must be a registered voter living within that district to vote in that election. All registered voters living in the Richardson Independent School District may vote in the Place 6 and Place 7 elections.

Click here for a map of the RISD’s single-member districts.

PLANO ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Requirements

Click here to see if you meet the requirements to run for PISD Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

Operating within the legal parameters of the state and federal constitutions, statutes, courts and administrative agencies, the board is charged with the responsibility of providing the finest educational program possible for the students in the district. School trustees make all final decisions regarding school district priorities, policies, personnel, textbooks, expenditures and growth management. Trustees adopt a budget which is necessary to maintain and operate the schools, levy taxes to support the budget and submit bond issues to the citizens of the district to finance construction projects. The board employs and evaluates the superintendent of schools, and selects and supervises the internal auditor.

Elections

The Plano ISD Board of Trustees consists of seven members elected to serve, without compensation, for overlapping terms of four years each. Elections are held on the first Saturday in May of odd numbered years. While candidates run for specific places, they do not represent specific geographical areas. Rather, each represents Plano ISD at large.

Click here for a PISD map.

COLLIN COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Requirements

Click here to see if you meet the requirements to run for the Collin College Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

The Collin College Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the District President, establishes the vision for the future of the college, its mission and strategic direction. In addition, the Trustees are responsible for establishing college policy, providing rigorous fiscal oversight, and leadership for the college’s continued growth and success in meeting the needs of its students and our community.

Elections

The Collin College Board of Trustees is comprised of nine members, elected at large for a six-year term by voters throughout Collin County.

DALLAS COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Requirements

Click here to see if you meet the requirements to run for the Dallas College Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities

The board defines the vision of the college, serves as a liaison between the college and the community, approves annual budgets and sets policies, among other responsibilities.

Elections

The Dallas College Board of Trustees consists of seven members who are entrusted with governing the college. Board members are elected officials who serve six-year terms without compensation.

Click here to view a map of Dallas College trustee districts.

CITY OF DALLAS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

The City of Dallas has a Mayor (elected at-large) and 14 members who represent single-member districts. All are elected in odd-numbered years and serve concurrent 2-year terms.

For more information, see the City of Dallas website.

CITY OF GARLAND MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

The City of Garland has a Mayor (elected at-large) and 8 members who represent single-member districts. Elections are held each year; members serve overlapping 2-year terms.

For more information, see the City of Garland website.