Coppell Gazette > News
Stage set for council election
By James Roth, jroth@starlocalnews.com
The filing period is over and now the race begins as the candidates for Coppell City Council have been finalized.
There are five places up for election this year, Places 2, 4, 6, 7 and the mayor seat. Two of the places have already been decided as both incumbents will be running unopposed.
In Place 2, Bob Mahalik will retain his seat. Mahalik has been in Coppell for 17 years and has been serving on the Coppell City Council since 2009. Joining Mahalik will be another incumbent who is running unopposed, Marvin Franklin.
Franklin will retain his Place 6 seat and has been on the city council for the past six years. Since moving to Texas, Franklin has only called Coppell his home. He has lived in the city for the past 12 years.
Place 4 will see two new faces hoping to join the city council. Place 4 was previously occupied by Marsha Tunnell; however, she has decided to run for the mayor seat. The candidates for Place 4 are Gary Roden and Davin Bernstein.
Roden, 51, has lived in the city for the past 16 years, while Bernstein, 46, has lived in Coppell for the past six years.
The other seat that will have an election will be Place 7. Place 7 was occupied by Karen Hunt; however her decision to run for the mayor seat has resulted in the city holding a special election to fill her place.
The special election will be held the same day as the other elections, May 12.
There are two candidates running for Place 7, Greg Garcia and Aaron Duncan. Garcia, 48, has lived in Coppell for the past 19 years. Duncan, 33, has lived in the city for the past four years.
Lastly, two former council members will go head-to-head for the mayor seat. Both Tunnell and Hunt have served on the city council and are active members throughout the community. Coppell City Manager Clay Matthews said both candidates would make great mayors for the city. However, it is up to the voters to decide.
Tunnell has been on the city council since 1995 and feels the time is right to run for mayor. Hunt has been on the council since 2008 and said she feels she can be a great leader for the city. Both candidates said they are in a position to give the time needed to be a strong mayor for the city.
However, both feel they will have different perspectives when it comes to addressing certain issues in Coppell.
“We have different personalities, and we would approach things differently,” Hunt said. “Marsha is a great person and brings a certain skill set to the table. I bring a different skill set to the table.”
Both are excited that the residents will have the opportunity to choose who they want to lead the city. In recent mayoral elections the candidate has run unopposed.
“I have seen this community grow and change a lot since I moved here and I thought it was time to step up,” Tunnell said.
Coppell residents will be able to cast their vote at Town Hall on Election Day which is May 12.
There are five places up for election this year, Places 2, 4, 6, 7 and the mayor seat. Two of the places have already been decided as both incumbents will be running unopposed.
In Place 2, Bob Mahalik will retain his seat. Mahalik has been in Coppell for 17 years and has been serving on the Coppell City Council since 2009. Joining Mahalik will be another incumbent who is running unopposed, Marvin Franklin.
Franklin will retain his Place 6 seat and has been on the city council for the past six years. Since moving to Texas, Franklin has only called Coppell his home. He has lived in the city for the past 12 years.
Place 4 will see two new faces hoping to join the city council. Place 4 was previously occupied by Marsha Tunnell; however, she has decided to run for the mayor seat. The candidates for Place 4 are Gary Roden and Davin Bernstein.
Roden, 51, has lived in the city for the past 16 years, while Bernstein, 46, has lived in Coppell for the past six years.
The other seat that will have an election will be Place 7. Place 7 was occupied by Karen Hunt; however her decision to run for the mayor seat has resulted in the city holding a special election to fill her place.
The special election will be held the same day as the other elections, May 12.
There are two candidates running for Place 7, Greg Garcia and Aaron Duncan. Garcia, 48, has lived in Coppell for the past 19 years. Duncan, 33, has lived in the city for the past four years.
Lastly, two former council members will go head-to-head for the mayor seat. Both Tunnell and Hunt have served on the city council and are active members throughout the community. Coppell City Manager Clay Matthews said both candidates would make great mayors for the city. However, it is up to the voters to decide.
Tunnell has been on the city council since 1995 and feels the time is right to run for mayor. Hunt has been on the council since 2008 and said she feels she can be a great leader for the city. Both candidates said they are in a position to give the time needed to be a strong mayor for the city.
However, both feel they will have different perspectives when it comes to addressing certain issues in Coppell.
“We have different personalities, and we would approach things differently,” Hunt said. “Marsha is a great person and brings a certain skill set to the table. I bring a different skill set to the table.”
Both are excited that the residents will have the opportunity to choose who they want to lead the city. In recent mayoral elections the candidate has run unopposed.
“I have seen this community grow and change a lot since I moved here and I thought it was time to step up,” Tunnell said.
Coppell residents will be able to cast their vote at Town Hall on Election Day which is May 12.
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