Two candidates will be on the ballot for the San Marcos Mayor seat in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.

A closer look: Candidates Amanda Rodriguez and Ryan Thomason will be vying for the position. Rodriguez is currently serving as the Place 6 council member. Candidates Lisa Prewitt, Bill Miller and Juan Miguel Arredondo will run to fill her seat.

Current Mayor Jane Hughson will appear on the ballot for the Place 3 council member seat, alongside incumbent Alyssa Garza.

Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

What else? Candidates were asked to keep responses within 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines or for style and clarity.

For more election coverage, visit www.communityimpact.com.

On May 16, city of Kyle staff outlined the multiyear causes that resulted in a projected $14.2 million budget shortfall by the end of fiscal year 2025-26. The proposed almost $417 million budget for the upcoming year aims to address the deficit through a variety of tactics, including a hiring freeze and decreased departmental budgets.

The gist: The city’s budget is made up of four major operating funds, including the general fund. A reserve fund must be maintained in the general fund, equal to at least 25% of operating expenses.

Interim City Manager Perwez Moheet, who previously served as the city’s finance director for 16 years, presented a structurally balanced FY 2026-27 budget to the City Council on Aug. 1. The budget funds all essential city services, operations and maintenance to adequately serve residents and businesses, according to agenda documents.

Additionally, council determined the scope of an approved forensic audit to investigate potential financial misconduct during a July 22 meeting.

Voters in the newly redrawn US House District 37 will choose their representative on Nov. 3, with early voting running Oct. 19-30. Community Impact asked candidates in competitive races to answer a set of questions on their motivations, priorities, and vision for the district.

Read the full Q&A for details on each candidate's platform ahead of the general election.

Texas senators indicated Sept. 1 that they intend to tighten regulations on data centers during next year’s legislative session, which begins in January.

What they're saying: “I think every member's district has had an impact from a data center conversation, so there will be plenty of bills trying to put things in place that are reasonable, responsible regulatory frameworks for data centers,” state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said.

The big picture: With some Texas residents and conservation groups sounding the alarm about water-intensive technologies used by some data centers, state agencies have warned that limited information is available on how much water the industry actually uses. Officials said they have also had trouble determining exactly how many data centers are operating in the state today, as there is no “comprehensive statewide list” of existing and planned facilities.

Estimates from state agencies and the University of Texas at Austin suggest that roughly 370 data centers are currently operating in Texas, with about 100 facilities under construction and another 180 being proposed.