First Look: College Station Mayoral Candidates

College Station residents will have to choose between reelecting incumbent Mayor Ben White and electing previous City Councilmember Nancy Berry. White was elected mayor in 2007, defeating current City Councilmember in Place 3, Dennis Maloney, with 56% of the vote. In 2005 White was elected to City Council Place 1, but ran unopposed. Berry was elected to the City Council Place 6 in 2004, receiving 57% of the vote, and defeating two other candidates including Lynn McIlhaney who was elected to City Council in 2006. Then in 2006 Berry was defeated by current City Councilmember in Place 6, Dave Ruesink, and only received 41% of the vote.

What are going to be some of the issues during this year’s campaign? The proposed convention center, the proposed new city hall, and the proposed new senior center are all going to be issues that Berry will be campaigning against. While White will be campaigning on “see projects through to the end” including the convention center and the new city hall. While other issues will also play a role, it appears as if the city budget and the spending by the city are going to be the major issues. Development projects may also be an issue, and environmental concerns may also play a part in the campaign. It should be interesting to find out how the proposed incorporation of Wellborn develops during the campaign, as White has and the current City Council have not seemed favorable to the incorporation while Berry has stated that the Wellborn community needed to be given a voice. It is clear that White is going to brand his campaign as that which continues the current course that the City Council is on, and that Berry is going to be branding her campaign as a change in leadership.

Both candidates have enjoyed endorsements from the Bryan-College Station Eagle. In 2007 the Eagle endorsed White for mayor, in part because “White has a much calmer personality [than his opponent], perhaps one more suited to leading a disparate group of council members at meetings that can sometimes become contentious.” When Berry first ran for City Council Place 6 in 2004, the Eagle endorsed Berry over two other candidates because “it is time to let others with fresh ideas have a chance.” In the 2006 municipal election, the Eagle endorsed Berry for City Council, and cited that “Berry has actual council experience and has learned the correct way to serve” and urged her “to be a leader in ensuring that city government is as transparent and open to all as possible.” This was in the wake of Berry and other City Councilmembers becoming involved in a controversy over the way the firing of former City Manager Tom Brymer was handled. Which candidate will the Eagle endorse? The Eagle tends to endorse incumbents more than challengers, so it is more likely that White receives the endorsement than Berry.

During an interview with WTAW 1620AM, White acknowledged that not all of the decisions the City Council has made have been popular but have made decisions that have “moved the city forward as we continue to grow.” Some of White’s goals if reelected will be to open fire station number six, continue beautification along FM 2818 and other entryways, and to continue moving forward with plans and studies related to the convention center. Berry said that “I think we are just not listening to the citizens, and we need to put some sanity back in the city council,” during an interview with WTAW 1620AM. The campaign for College Station mayor should be a fascinating campaign to watch, and considering that both candidates have significant political experience it should be interesting whether residents of College Station vote for the continuation of the current policies or a change in direction.