Warren, who was first elected to council in May 2017, is seeking to replace Mayor Andrew Mitcham, who is stepping down due to term limits.
In a Jan. 4 press release, Warren touted his experience as a council member.
“During my four years on the Jersey Village City Council, I have worked closely with our mayor and my fellow council members on key issues such as flood mitigation, public safety and economic development," he said. "There’s a lot of work left to do, and I look forward to leading the way forward as your next mayor.”
In his time on council, Warren led an effort to raise the city's homestead exemption, which allows homeowners in the city to deduct more from their home's value when calculating property taxes. Council ultimately voted unanimously in June 2019 to raise the homestead exemption from 8% to 14%.
Warren held off on supporting an additional increase in the homestead exemption in 2020, citing the uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he has indicated that he would support raising it again when the economy has stabilized. As a council member, he also supported the use of economic development incentives—including Chapter 380 agreements—as a way to bolster the city's sales tax base and further reduce the property tax burden. Warren, along with the rest of council, voted in favor of a property tax rate decrease in September.
Warren was also one of four council members to vote in support of the $5.25 purchase of a land tract in the city south of Hwy. 290 to help advance the Village Center, a mixed-use project that city officials hope will bring more economic development to the area.
In the Jan. 4 release, Warren also said that he has been a champion of increasing transparency while on the council, including leading the effort to have public meeting broadcast online and having the city publish its check register on its website.
Council members and mayors in Jersey Village serve two-year terms without compensation. Under the city's term limits, candidates are limited to three consecutive terms.
Per Texas law, candidates may begin filing Jan. 13 for a spot on the ballot in May's local elections. The deadline to file is Feb. 12 at 5 p.m.
In his bid for mayor, Warren will step down from his current position as Place 3 council member; that seat is also up for election this May. A third seat on council—Place 2—is also up for election: Incumbent Greg Holden will step down due to term limits after winning elections in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
