7 Council Seats Contested In Pasadena's May Election

PASADENA, TX — The election season in Pasadena will be a busy one for candidates, and for voters who go to the polls in May. Only one of the eight council members up for re-election will run unopposed in the upcoming election.

Councilman Sammy Casados will be the only unchallenged candidate this election season.

Some of the names on the ballot may be familiar to some voters. Former Pasadena councilman Ornaldo Ybarra is looking to unseat District A incumbent Felipe Villarreal who is seeking his second term in office.

District B Councilman Bruce Leamon seeks a fourth term, but he will have to hold off challenges by Steve Halvorson and Blanca L. Sanchez. Leamon and Halvorson faced off two years ago, which resulted in a razor thin victory for Leamon.

In the District C race, its incumbent Don Harrison is challenged by Pasadena businessman Jaimy Blanco.

In the District E race, incumbent Cody Ray Wheeler seeks a third term, and will face off against Joseph “JT” Thomas, while Councilman Phil Cayten hopes to hold off challenger Sam Tijerina in the District F race.

District G Councilman Cary Bass seeks a third term, and will face challenger Mary Vargas, while in District H, it's Thomas Schoenbein seeking a second term against challenger Lori Laird.

This is the second most contested council race since the 2017 election that came after the city lost an embarrassing legal battle against the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund that alleged Pasadena City leaders at the time were diluting the growing Hispanic voting block.

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