Chris Schulmeister sworn in as Allen’s next mayor

Allen’s new mayor has officially begun his term.

Chris Schulmeister took an oath of office and Place 2 council member Tommy Baril was sworn in for his next term at an Allen City Council meeting May 26.

The details

Schulmeister won the race for Allen mayor with 3,278 votes, or 81% of votes cast. Schulmeister ran against Dave Shafer, who got 764 votes, or 19%. There were 4,070 total votes cast, according to data from the Collin County Elections Office.

Schulmeister and his wife, Jeanie, have lived in Allen since 1984, he said. He previously served on Allen City Council as well as multiple boards including the Allen Community Development Corp., Allen Economic Development Corp. and nonprofit organization All Community Outreach.

“Chris has always been deeply invested in Allen’s success,” Allen City Manager Eric Ellwanger said. “He is thoughtful, strategic and exceptionally well prepared. No matter the topic, Chris does the homework. He asks hard questions, not for the sake of asking them, but because he genuinely wants to make the best possible decisions for this community.”

Schulmeister said he considered it an honor to represent the residents of Allen.

“I will work every day to see that Allen remains a city where families thrive and businesses grow and every Allen resident respects the city and cares, genuinely cares, about one another,” Schulmeister said.

Diving deeper

Council member Tommy Baril also took an oath of office and received a certificate of election.

He ran unopposed for reelection for the Place 2 position on City Council and received 3,206 votes, Collin County Elections documents state.

“One of the things I’ve learned in my faith is gratitude is a virtue, and I’d be remiss if I did not show my gratitude,” Baril said. “I do want to thank the Allen community for putting its faith back in me three years later after they first elected me."

Baril has been a member of Allen City Council since 2023 and previously served on the Allen Community Development Corp. and Downtown Steering Committee.

One more thing

Council members also recognized former Mayor Baine Brooks for his service.

“Baine always represented Allen with style, with class, with intelligence, with pizzazz, with humor and not everybody can do that,” council member Michael Schaeffer said. “But I will tell you, he lit that torch, and Allen’s light has shone brighter because of the spotlight that you put on us.”

Council member Ken Cook said Brooks has been a “true servant leader.”

“Baine has poured his heart into making Allen stronger, safer and more vibrant for all its citizens,” Cook said.