The deadline to file as a candidate for the upcoming May 6 city council elections was Feb. 17. Here are the candidates who filed for the open positions in the Pearland and Friendswood city councils.

City of Pearland:

Mayor:
  • Kevin Cole
City Council Position 3:
  • Alex Kamkar
  • Jai Daggett
City Council Position 7:
  • Antonio Johnson
  • Rushi Patel
Mayor Kevin Cole, who is running for re-election unopposed, said he encourages residents to show up to the polls to vote on contested seats and the upcoming drainage bond.

“I want to continue to do as much work as I can to help our city and make it better than it is today,” Cole said. “I get three more years to do that.”

Council Member and developer Alex Kamkar is facing a challenge from local business owner Jai Daggett. Long-serving Council Member Woody Owens is not running for re-election in May, paving the way for a contest between Antonio Johnson, a former Pearland Economic Development Corp. board member, and local business owner Rushi Patel.


City of Friendswood:

City Council Position 2:
  • Sally Harris Branson
City Council Position 5:
  • Joseph Matranga
  • Adam Hill
Position 2 incumbent Sally Branson is running unopposed. She is a longtime Friendswood resident, financial adviser and business owner.

Position 5 incumbent John Scott is not running for re-election. The two candidates vying for the open seat are Joseph Matranga, the former vice president of a Houston-based oil and gas company, and Adam Hill, the president of Friendswood-based construction company Sterling Builders.