Challengers win council place 3, 4 races

Alyssa Garza and Shane Scott will be sworn in as new San Marcos City councilmembers for Place 3 and 4 unseating incumbents Ed Mihalkanin and Mark Rockeymoore. 

Garza won with a substantial lead of 8,271 votes with 71.43% of the vote and 12,785 total ballots cast with her name. Mihalkanin ended the night with 28.57% of the vote and 5,514 votes in the unofficial results. 

Hays County unofficial results were posted late Tuesday night announcing 71.2% voter turnout including 109,386 ballots cast of 153,614. There may be some final mail-in ballots postmarked Tuesday trickling in as well as military ballots. 

“With 71.43% of the votes I want to thank the community for electing me to the San Marcos City Council. For almost a decade I’ve spent my time working alongside my neighbors towards a more just and equitable San Marcos,” Garza said in a social media post. “My campaign was community based and driven and the results of my election have sent a very clear message- the power of the people is stronger than the people in power. San Marcos, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to better serve our community in an elected capacity. I will not let you down.”

Mihalkanin did not respond immediately for comment. 

Scott has been declared the unofficial victor with a 1,889 vote lead and 55.11% of the vote. 

Rockeymoore won 8,299 votes and Scott garnered 10,188 votes in the unofficial results. 

“It has been my honor and highest privilege to serve the city of San Marcos in this capacity,” Rockeymoore said. “Our nation is at a critical juncture and how we take care of the least of us not only tells the world who we are as a nation, it reveals who we are as individuals as well. I will always serve the greater good, whether in office or not. I’ll always desire the best outcome for our Jewel of Central Texas and stand proudly with those who do the same. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and if you see me around town, please don’t hesitate to say hello!”

Scott and Garza have starkly different campaign messages, some may say lean hard on the opposite ends of the political spectrum. The unofficial wins for these candidates may not indicate a swing in any political direction of San Marcos, but rather that residents have voiced they want change in the San Marcos City Council. 

The Nov. 3 election will be canvassed, and newly elected councilmembers Garza and Scott will be sworn in on Monday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins.