Four challengers join two incumbents in the City of El Campo’s May at-large council race, and one of them will ultimately become the city’s next mayor.
John Bieltz, Cody Guynes, Frances Roemer and Kyle Wallis had filed for election as of presstime Friday, just a few moments before the official close of the filing deadline. They will face incumbents Eugene Bustamante (currently the mayor pro tem) and Blake Barger.
Bieltz is a retired accountant who last year was an unsuccessful candidate for El Campo’s District 4 position. He is a member of the El Campo Heritage Center, El Campo Country Club, El Campo Pickleball Club and First United Methodist Church – El Campo.
He received a bachelor’s in business administration from Ohio State University in 1981.
Guynes, co-owner in Elite Vegetation Control, previously patrolled El Campo streets as a police officer and had served as a paramedic with El Campo EMS. Now, the 2013 El Campo High School graduate’s company works with establishing and maintaining solar farms.
Guynes said he wanted to find a way to maintain his service in the city. “I’ve always been curious on how the city ran. I didn’t want to cut my ties,” he said.
To keep up his police and EMS certifications, Guynes works as a reserve officer with the Precinct 2 constable’s office and part-time with East Bernard EMS.
Born in Wharton and a life-time El Campoan, Guynes took his EMS and police training at Wharton County Junior College.
Roemer is a customer service representative for Copart, a vehicle clearing house, who works from home. She and husband Jim moved to the city about two years ago. “We fell in love with El Campo. I’m very impressed with the city, with law enforcement and how quickly they solve crimes … I feel like it would be good to be active in the community,” she said.
Although she’s yet to serve on a governmental entity, Roemer has similar experience previously serving on the executive board for the Association of Builders and Contractors, on a chamber of commerce board and with a Louisiana design school.
The Roemers are members of St. Robert’s Catholic Church.
“This is a nice town. I want to do whatever I can for El Campo. Moving forward, I see a very bright future for El Campo,” she said.
Wallis is an engineering manager for a power station and have worked in power generation for 16 years. Wallis previously worked as a drilling supervisor for ExxonMobil Development Co.
He is a 2001 graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science in Engineering Technology.
Wallis has lived in El Campo more than 21 years, is married and has two daughters.
He is a member of St Philip’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 2490 where he is a third degree Knight. He’s served on the St. Philips Catholic School Advisory Board and assists with El Campo Red Wave Swimming program and Wharton County 4-H where his children are active.
“I am interested in serving on El Campo City Council because I care about the direction of the community and want to give back. I feel that my experiences in work, family, and in the community will provide value to the city council,” Wallis said.
Bustamante is a retired El Campo volunteer firefighter who works as a division manager for ClearWell Dynamics. He still volunteers his time at ECVFD fundraisers or to assist the department with other activities.
He is a long-time member of the El Campo Elks Lodge, is on the 100 Club of Wharton County board of directors and is a director for the Coastal Bend Oilman’s Fishing Tournament.
“I try to help out where I can,” Bustamante said.
Barger is the general manager for South Texas Land Limited Partnership. He was previously a chamber of commerce director and Northside Education Center board member. He associated with the Matagorda Bays CCA and the 100 Club of Wharton County.
If ultimately elected, it would be Bustamante’s third term and Barger’s second. In El Campo, council members can serve five consecutive terms before term limits will require them to step down.
Mayor Chris Barbee, who is eligible for another term on council, has announced his intention to retire.
The city’s next mayor will be determined in this at-large election. At-large council members do not run by place. Instead, the top three vote getters take posts with the top vote getter becoming mayor and the second place finisher mayor pro tem.
Political hopefuls have until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 to make their intentions known, by filling out and returning the candidate packet for the whatever they prefer.
All three incumbents have filed for re-election in May and no challengers have surfaced.
Position 1 – Kathy Smith, a former El Campo teacher.
Position 2 – Rich DuBroc, a former El Campo principal.
Position 4 – James Russell, a risk manager for an insurance company.
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