Over and over, we hear local municipal elections are nonpartisan, which means candidates do not officially run under “party labels” or political affiliations.   While we would like to believe our local races are non-partisan in theory, it is simply not true.  Unless you are living under a rock, you understand politics has heated up and taken center stage across the nation and that has caused more voters to ask a candidate their political affiliation at all levels of government.

According to Ballotpedia, the local government has become a testing ground for political movements and policy proposals.  Many cities are starting to clash with state and federal governments over issues of immigration to marijuana legalization.  They website lists out the 100 Current Mayors of the 100 Largest U.S. Cities by population.  As of January 2024, the partisan breakdown of mayors for the 100 largest U.S. cities was 63 Democrats, 25 Republicans, 1 Libertarian, 4 Independents and 5 Non-Partisans.  While several Texas cities made the list, the City of Frisco is not one of them.

Just recently worldwide politics took center stage right here in Frisco at the January 18th city council meeting when residents chose to address a very divisive and hot topic current issue.  During citizen’s input, several members of the local Muslim community spoke out asking city leaders to pass a resolution on the Israel Gaza Conflict.   One resident asked for peace and a “resolution” to condemn the conflict while another resident asked for a cease fire resolution. A young woman spoke and said she carries the weight of displaced Palestinians and talked of her people’s genocide.   She called for the city council to call for an immediate cease fire in Gaza, facilitate unhindered aid to the region and put an end to the siege and address the occupation and genocide in Palestine.   While I understand the residents’ concerns I am sure we have residents who have a very different opinion that the residents who spoke at council.  It is simply false to say in 2024, that local elections are “NON-PARTISAN.”  The proof is in citizens input, it shows most voters are not separating local, state and national/worldwide issues. 

This week I was sitting at my favorite local coffee shop and a young college student walked in and sat down.  We started up a conversation about politics and he repeatedly told me he is a proud Democrat, and that Democrats will take over Texas soon.  I asked him if he would ever vote for a conservative, support a conservative, or donate to a conservative.   With a stern tone he said, “no way, no that would never happen.” 

I then asked him who he is supporting in our local elections for city council, and he told me Angelia Pelham and John Keating.  I asked him to give me the reasons why he chose each candidate so I could understand his mindset. When he was done, I chuckled and said you know John Keating is a Republican, right?  He looked at me as if I was a stupid old man and said that is not true.  I invited him to my table, and I showed him John Keating’s campaign finance report on my iPad.   I asked him if that changed his opinion, and he replied who is the Democrat running?  I told him local elections are supposed to be “non-partisan” and he responded swiftly “well not for me.”  It is further proof that people of all ages are not seeing local elections as non-partisan anymore. 

Do you think local politics is non-partisan?  If you do, would you be upset if you donated to a local candidate and then found out that candidate was using your money to donate to other candidates in state and national races who are affiliated to a specific party?  Local politics has changed in very significant ways and we are diving into where the money goes in our next blog.