Rummel was sworn in April 19. Meinershagen will be sworn in during a May City Council meeting.
Meinershagen was named to fill the seat of former Council Member Shona Huffman, who resigned March 15 due to a cancer diagnosis. Meinershagen was the only other candidate to file in the now-canceled May election.
Rummel accumulated the most votes over Tracie Reveal Shipman on March 26 in a special runoff election to fill former City Council Member Dan Stricklin’s seat.
What are you looking forward to most during your time on City Council?
TM: What excites me the most about serving on the City Council is getting to know more of our residents and serving them. My civic engagement began over a decade ago in Frisco, and I was honestly not sure if my voice mattered in the larger machine of government. What I’ve learned is that if you are genuinely passionate about something, you can make a difference. I look forward to using my role to shine a spotlight on our multifaceted community, cultivate new leaders, engage our diverse population, feature local businesses and work together to meet the challenges ahead.
LR: I am really looking forward to working on big projects like our performing arts center and Grand Park as well as partnering with our [Frisco Economic Development Corp.] to help bring new and innovative companies to Frisco. I am excited to contribute to the decisions that determine how we build out and redevelop our city.
What do you think are the biggest challenges Frisco faces in the coming years?
TM: After 18 years of living in Frisco as a Chicago transplant, I am thankful to have raised our family in the best place to live, work and play. I believe the biggest challenge Frisco faces is how to curate our city to be the best place to stay. We are at a point in Frisco’s maturation where half of the top 10 priorities are now focused on quality of life: Grand Park, trail connectivity, increasing tourism, downtown entertainment destinations and the performing arts center. All of these encompass greater issues that include traffic, density, public safety and more. This next stage of Frisco’s development and identity will require big-picture thinking, a collaborative “can-do” spirit, and an overall guiding strategy that looks at what is best for Frisco 20 years from now, not just today. I’m ready to tackle these challenges and help take Frisco to the next level.
LR: We are an extremely attractive place to live, work and play, but we have limited real estate and finite resources. Figuring out how we meet the increasing demands on our city while continuing to maintain and foster the best possible community experience for our residents and visitors will be the biggest challenge.
How exactly do you plan to serve the residents you represent?
TM: Public service is not about power and position—it’s about the people. Being on the City Council means I work for you, the citizens of Frisco. My commitment is to listen, to care and to help solve the issues that are your pain points. Although I have areas of expertise that I bring to the table, I will be engaging field experts and our talented residents to help inform and guide the priorities. This is your city, and I am here to represent you. I am just a phone call and email away!
LR: I believe the best way to serve our residents is to keep Frisco as the No. 1 priority. We are going to keep growing, and it’s our job on council to effectively manage that growth. If we base our decisions on whether or not Frisco will benefit as a whole, then I believe we are doing what we were elected to do.
What would you like to see from the residents you represent?
TM: I ask that our residents each find 10 new people this year to get civically involved and registered to vote. Town halls, committees, social media posts and placements on boards are great ways to share your ideas, but in the end, your vote possesses the most power. We need to exponentially increase voter participation in our city, and that’s going to take an intentional effort by all our residents, one conversation at a time.
LR: This community does an amazing job of stepping up to help others, and it is a big reason why I love Frisco. It helps contribute to our small-town feel, which is definitely something I want to maintain as we continue to grow. People volunteering and giving back is a great way to “be the change you want to see,” and it also helps to create meaningful connections to others. I would encourage everyone to get involved in volunteering with something you are passionate about. And finally, I hope everyone will give me the opportunity to be their councilwoman, regardless of whether they voted for me or not, as I am committed to representing all of Frisco.
