Tyler councilmember Stuart Hene announces mayoral bid; McKellar, Nix also intend to run

Published 6:45 pm Wednesday, June 18, 2025

From Staff Reports

Three local residents have announced their intentions to run for mayor of Tyler in 2026.

Current Tyler Mayor Don Warren’s final term expires in 2026. Locals who have announced their intentions to run for mayor in May 2026 include current District 1 councilmember Stuart Hene, former District 3 city councilmember Shirley McKellar, and former city councilmember John Nix.

Formal filing opens later this year.

Warren has served the city as mayor since 2020. Prior to his time as mayor, Warren served three consecutive terms on the city council. In the City of Tyler, the mayor and councilmembers serve two-year terms with a term limit of three consecutive terms. The mayor and councilmembers are not paid for their service.

Who plans to run?

Stuart Hene

Tyler City Council member Stuart Hene on Tuesday announced his intent to run for mayor, launching a campaign he said is focused on continued growth, strong partnerships, and bold, forward-looking leadership.

A native of Tyler and current District 1 representative on the city council, Hene said his announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter in his service to the community he has long called home.

“Tyler has made tremendous progress in recent years, but we can’t stop now,” Hene said. “As mayor, I’ll focus on what’s next: investing in smart, forward-thinking infrastructure, supporting our police and first responders, encouraging innovation, and strengthening the partnerships that make our city thrive.”

Hene is a graduate of then-Robert E. Lee High School and holds degrees from Baylor University and Oklahoma City University School of Law. He co-founded Tarry & Hene, PLLC, and leads an energy consulting firm. Since being elected to the city council in 2021, Hene has helped champion growth and development across the entire city, supported major public safety initiatives, and worked to improve transparency and access to city services and decision-making, according to his campaign.

Pam Frederick, the current Bullard city manager and a former Smith County commissioner, introduced Hene at his campaign launch on the square in downtown Tyler.

“Stuart has that rare mix of vision and drive. He doesn’t just see what’s possible, he moves to make it real. He listens, he collaborates, and he leads with purpose,” Frederick said.

Hene said his campaign is “built on momentum, transparency, and working together to build a stronger future.” If elected, Hene said he will leverage “Tyler’s strong foundation to lead the city into its next great era.”

“The work isn’t done,” Hene added. “Tyler is growing, and we need a mayor who will lead with purpose, listen with understanding, and act with urgency.”

For more information, visit www.stuarthene.com.

Shirley McKellar

McKellar was first elected to the city council in 2019 to represent and serve District 3. She is a United States Army veteran, business entrepreneur and nonprofit founder. Her term concluded in May.

McKellar, a fifth-generation Tylerite, has received many awards and recognition over the years for her dedication and service to the community.

McKellar grew up around family members who were always involved in the community. She said in a previous interview with the Tyler Paper that she was raised to value education, be wise with money and to give back.

During her time on the council, she aimed to support projects that would help her hometown reach its full potential.

“I am a servant. I believe in serving the people, because I think that when you serve the people, the people will serve you back,” she said in 2022. “They’ll help you accomplish whatever your goals and objectives are that you want to achieve.”

Part of McKellar’s mission for Tyler is ensuring people of color have the same opportunities as others. McKellar has been an advocate for Black Voters Matter, an organization with a goal of increasing power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities.

She has also focused on civil rights issues, sexual harassment protection, equal opportunities in employment and more.

She is the host of a radio segment, “A View from the Top” on 104.9 FM, KGLD 1330 AM, where she talks about job openings, how to invest in stocks and mutual funds and how to save money.

McKellar pursued higher education from Texas Women’s University, where she earned her bachelor of science in nursing and chemistry. She also earned her masters from University of Texas at Austin and her doctorate in nursing and healthcare management at Columbus State University. She later returned to her collegiate journey at the University of Texas at Tyler to earn her degree in political science before running for representative of Texas’s 1st Congressional District in 2012.

At age 44, McKellar went into the military as the first woman in her family to follow in her family members’ footsteps.

McKellar has previously noted her goal to encourage businesses near Gentry Parkway and in North Tyler and said she also hopes North Broadway will eventually be connected to Interstate 20. She would also like to build more affordable housing to help those experiencing homelessness, something she called troubling especially for veterans.

John Nix

Nix served District 6 from 2013 to 2019. On his campaign website, he reflected on what he considers accomplishments during his time on the council including support from the Texas Association of Builders to allow growth into the Tall Timbers/Liberty wastewater certification area; lobbying in Austin for the hotel/motel sales tax rebate, which supported the goal of building a city conference center; helping neighborhoods in the district enter development agreements to allow growth while minimizing impact on existing neighborhoods; meeting with constituents; reviewing the budget for fiscal accountability; working to ensure the rebuild of Cambridge Bend Road was debt-free; and helping to raise funding for an all-accessible playground at Southside Park.

Nix is currently the president of Nix Construction and Nix Builders and is the owner of Nix Properties LLC.

“I’m not a career politician. I’m a frustrated citizen and businessman who’s tired of watching city government become less responsive and more disconnected from the people it’s meant to serve,” Nix writes on his campaign website. “I’m stepping up because Tyler deserves better — and I’m ready to lead the charge.”

His campaign website said the city government has “lost sight of its most important duty — serving the people.”

Nix believes Tyler deserves better and, if elected, wants to refocus city staff on customer service; eliminate waste and inefficiency; and restore trust through transparency and results, according to his website.

If elected, Nix said he would deliver “real results — not red tape and endless engineering studies. We must prioritize public safety and service delivery to transparent billing.”

Overall, Nix said his campaign will focus on accountability, efficiency and a renewed focus on serving the city’s residents.

For information about Nix’s campaign, visit nixformayor.com .