Taking a step back
Fifteen candidates originally ran for the position in November. However, after residents across Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties cast their votes, Boykins and Salinas were sent to a runoff after no candidates received more than 50% of the votes.
Salinas received 38,127 votes, while Boykins trailed slightly behind with 37,816 votes.
Meet the candidates
In a Q&A with all candidates, Community Impact asked why Salinas wanted to run for the vacant City Council position. In her response, she said it is because she fell in love with the city a decade ago.
"I’m fighting for what my neighbors want, and every Houstonian deserves: safer neighborhoods, affordable and reliable city services, and a strong infrastructure that keeps the lights on and keeps floodwaters out of our homes and cars," she said.
Salinas is an attorney and lists her priorities as public safety, affordable city services, infrastructure, water and equity.
Boykins said he wants to use his experience as a former Houston City Council member to continue serving the city.
"The city is projected to face a roughly $80 million budget shortfall, the potential restructuring of long-term debt, and is challenged with maintaining critical city services while actively addressing crime reduction," he said in his Q&A. "I have helped Houston navigate these waters before. I am ready to accept the challenge once again."
Boykins served six years as a council member for District D. His priorities include public safety, fiscal responsibility, weather awareness and water infrastructure.
Something to note
The winner of the runoff election will fill an unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2028. To see a full list of early voting polling locations for all three counties, visit here.
