Early voting starts on Monday, April 24. For those that have any interest in my thoughts on the council election race, read on. Otherwise, have a great day and move on 
A preamble to this post is that I am not basing my choices on all the normal election “issues” (e.g. infrastructure, public safety, growth, etc.) but focusing on the candidates that share my beliefs and values and what “community” means to them (through the election 2023 looking glass). Human decency, respect, and ethics are my main focus in the council race.
Naturally, it goes without saying that these are my words, and are not representative of any groups, organizations, or other associations I may have or are connected to.
FRISCO MAYOR – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)
I’m under-voting in this race (i.e. no vote). Neither of the two main candidates (or the third) has convinced me that a vote for any of them is worthwhile.
Jeff Cheney made his position VERY clear on what he thought of some members of the LGBTQ+ community last year when he was kind enough to share that we are no longer relevant, and he did not need “our” support. I have struggled with Cheney for a good amount of time, as I don’t think he is a very strong leader, and in my view, he tends to have a preference to work more through manipulation rather than collaboration. I had hoped that Cheney would be a good mayor, but he just isn’t. IMHO, he is the worst mayor who has held that position since I moved here in 1999.
I met with Mark Piland for Frisco a while back and when we spoke, he said all the right things, and while he seemed like a far better candidate than his opponent, over the course of the last month or so, I decided to rethink this. I shared with Piland that in my view, his biggest challenge was going to be the “guilt by association” which is strong in our community and has been for a while. I also said that my focus was going to be on issues that were important to me, rather than the usual (see preamble above). Over the course of the last month or so, many of his supporters tend to be made up of people who are attacking our trans-youth, our teachers, removing more local control from citizens, and other current right-wing extremist views. He hasn’t rejected these ideals, values, or beliefs, and in some cases endorsements, and when you don’t reject them, you accept them. This is the only reason I’m not giving my vote to Piland. You can’t be a candidate that wants to bring change to the rhetoric that is currently going on in our city, and yet surround yourself with groups of people who are responsible for it. Piland is a good guy and if he had not jumped into bed with the people he has chosen to, my choice could have been different.
FRISCO COUNCIL PLACE 5 – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)
This one is tougher, as I like Laura Schavrien Rummel, but she has aligned herself with anti-LGBTQ+ members in our community and as I mentioned above, this is a major driving force right now for me given what is happening in our community. Her silence on the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community has been a little disappointing, but understandable given her support base this election. Anwar seems like a nice business guy, but he lacks a great deal of experience, understanding, and knowledge. Another undervote (i.e. no vote) from me.
FRISCO COUNCIL PLACE 6 – UNDERVOTE (i.e. no vote for any candidate)
Brian Livingston for Frisco is running unopposed. So there is absolutely no need to vote for him as he is going to win. Livingston is not a friend of the LGBTQ community in the slightest, but in his defense, he has never hidden this and has still taken the time to meet with members of our community over the years. He doesn’t represent many of the LGBTQ+’s beliefs or values, but he does meet with his constituents. IMO, he has political aspirations to move up, he is building his “team” for the 2026 mayor’s race which will most likely have him on the ballot.
Of course, like I have said every election season, do your own research, figure out who is your best candidate for what you believe in, and remember to vote. Take friends to vote, ask your neighbors to vote, but just vote!