John Thomaides, Place 3 San Marcos City Council member, announced July 13 he plans to resign his seat on council and run for mayor in the Nov. 8 election. San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero, who has held the office since 2010, announced July 12 he will not seek re-election.
“I do have a lot of experience, and I will be a steady hand,” Thomaides said. “There’s no question about that. Because of my time and investment of the expertise that I have and the experience that I have. I’m definitely going to bring a fresh perspective as mayor.”
Thomaides, a business owner who has served on City Council for 13 years, said his top priorities as mayor would include managing growth, maintaining a high quality of life in the city, ensuring economic prosperity for all residents and the ongoing flood recovery efforts after 2015’s heavy rainfalls.
“I’ve been talking about mobility issues and beautification issues and quality-of-life issues since the first campaign I ever ran,” he said. “I intend to continue to do that as mayor and push that ball forward. I think we’ve made great strides, but there is still a long way to go.”
Thomaides said he sees the mayor’s role in flood recovery as facilitating dialogue and building consensus among the community and leaders.
“I will not let this city get flood amnesia,” he said. “I am committed to fixing the chronic flooding problems that we have that devastate our citizens. I can’t stop it from raining 20 inches, but we can do things that stop that water from coming into neighborhoods that get 500 of my homeowners wet.”
Announcing his candidacy required Thomaides to resign his seat on the council, but he will serve through Nov. 8, when voters will choose a new council member to fill the position.
The filing period for the November elections begins July 23 and runs through Aug. 22. Because the City Clerk’s office will not be open July 23, the first day to submit an application for a place on the ballot will be July 25.
Four spots on the council will be open. The mayor’s seat, Thomaides’ resigned seat, the Place 2 seat held by Jude Prather and the Place 1 seat held by Lisa Prewitt.
“I will not let this city get flood amnesia. I am committed to fixing the chronic flooding problems that we have that devastate our citizens. I can’t stop it from raining 20 inches, but we can do things that stop that water from coming into neighborhoods that get 500 of my homeowners wet.”
—John Thomaides, San Marcos mayoral candidate
Guerrero has begun serving as the director for special programs for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperative’s Virtual Trade Mission, which aims to “build and sustain a global learning for global leadership program at San Marcos High School,” according to a news release.
“I have been honored to serve the people of San Marcos for six years as mayor and another four years as a City Council member,” Guerrero said in a statement. “We have worked together to create jobs, manage growth in the fastest-growing city in the U.S., respond to disastrous floods, protect our sacred spring-fed river, expand our parks and green spaces, and improve our downtown, neighborhoods, roads and bikeways.”
Lisa Marie Coppoletta, a San Marcos activist and video blogger, said she may also run for mayor in November. Coppoletta said she may also focus on working in the private sector or pursue one of the other council seats that will be up for election.
Coppoletta said she is pleased with the female leadership on the council and will wait to see how the other races shape up before she decides whether she will run.
Coppoletta said her top priorities include flood recovery; "fiscal conservatism in terms of road projects;" protecting the San Marcos River, indigenous history and the natural environment; and balancing the needs of students and full-time city residents.
