A map of Tyler's City Council districts is available for voters to identify their respective district boundaries ahead of the May 2025 election.

Candidates eyeing a seat in elected offices will need to move quickly — the clock to get on the May 2025 ballot is now ticking.

The filing period for local positions, including Tyler City Council and various school districts, opened Wednesday and continues through Feb. 14. Potential candidates should review eligibility requirements and prepare their applications to meet the deadline.

City of Tyler

Tyler City Council elections are held in May of each year, with seats rotating based on the year. Elections for the mayor and council Districts 2, 4 and 6 fall in even-numbered years, while Districts 1, 3 and 5 are decided in odd-numbered years.

The Tyler mayor and city council members serve two-year terms, capped at three consecutive terms. They are not paid for their service to the citizens of Tyler.

Candidates vying for a seat on the Tyler City Council must register with the city clerk’s Office and meet the eligibility criteria set forth in the city charter. Beyond legal requirements, candidates and councilmembers must also:

• Be a qualified voter within the city.

• Reside in the district they seek to represent for at least six months prior to the election.

• Maintain residency in that district throughout their term in office.

These requirements ensure candidates have a vested interest in the communities they aim to serve.

Among the seats up for election, District 1 Councilmember Stuart Hene intends to seek reelection, aiming to continue serving not only the residents of his district but the entire Tyler community for another term. Hene was first sworn-in in 2021 and has served two consecutive terms on the council.

District 3 Councilmember Dr. Shirley McKellar, who has served three consecutive terms since 2019, will not seek reelection this year, paving the way for new leadership. Shonda Marsh, who announced her intent to run in December, has stepped forward to vie for the seat.

District 5 councilmember Lloyd Nichols was sworn in in May 2023.

School districts

Tyler ISD and Chapel Hill ISD have school board seats up for election in May.

Both Boards of Trustees are composed of seven community members who are elected by the general public to serve for a term of three years each. On a rotating basis, board seats are filled during annual elections.

Tyler ISD

Candidates for the Tyler ISD school board must reside in the single-member district they intend to represent. Districts 1, 3, and 6 are up for election this year for those seeking a seat on the Tyler ISD school board.

Currently, District 1 is represented by President R. Wade Washmon, District 3 by Vice President Yvonne Atkins and District 6 by Lindsey Harrison.

Applications for the Tyler ISD school board election can be submitted in person or by mail to the Office of the Board Secretary at the Tyler ISD Administration Building, located at 1319 Earl Campbell Parkway in Tyler. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 5 p.m. on Feb. 14.

For more information, contact Gina Orr, Secretary to the Board of Trustees, at 903-262-1001, by fax at 903-262-1178 or via email at gina.orr@tylerisd.org.

Chapel Hill ISD

In Chapel Hill ISD, candidates for the school board are elected by plurality voting, meaning whomever receives more votes than any other candidate for a specific position wins the seat.

This means the candidate who receives the most votes for a particular seat wins, even if they don’t have an outright majority. For example, in a race with three candidates, the person who gets the highest number of votes, even if it’s less than half of the total votes, would win.

The following school board seats will be up for election in 2025: Place 1, Place 2 and Place 3. Current officeholders include Les Schminkey, Place 1, Board Vice President; David Acker, Place 2; and Rickey Mosley, Place 3.

For more information, contact Teresa Whitaker, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at 903-566-2441. You can also reach her by fax at 903-566-8935.

To be eligible for election or appointment to the office of school board member, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen.

• Be 18 years old or older on the first day of the term to be filled or the date of appointment.

• Not have been declared totally or partially mentally incapacitated by a final court judgment, nor be unable to vote due to such a ruling.

• Not have been convicted of a felony for which they have not been pardoned or otherwise had their rights restored.

• Have resided continuously in Texas for 12 months and in the specific district for six months prior to one of the following dates: the regular filing deadline for independent candidates, the date of the election for write-in candidates, or the date of appointment for an appointee.

• Be registered to vote in the district on the date specified in the preceding criteria.

A person is ineligible to serve as a member of the school board if they have been convicted of a felony or any offense that would disqualify them from holding public office.

Contact the school district’s election office or board secretary to get a candidate packet. Complete and submit an application for a place on the ballot. Some districts require a filing fee.

Once an application is accepted, it is advised to start campaigning. This may involve attending school board meetings, meeting with voters and organizing outreach efforts to gain support.

Next steps for those looking to run

As the filing period for local elections is now open, potential candidates have a limited window to submit their applications and meet eligibility requirements. Aspiring candidates should review the qualifications for their respective positions, ensure their applications are submitted on time and begin connecting with voters to build support.