The Killeen City Council held a special meeting on December 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM to consider Resolution RS-25-193, which would change the city's general elections from the May uniform election date to the November uniform election date in odd-numbered years, as authorized by Senate Bill 1494. The deadline for such a decision is December 31, 2025. After public testimony and council discussion, the council adopted an amended version (Option 3) by a 7-0 vote.
Councilman Kendrick, can you hear me? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Yes, yes, Mayor. I can hear the good afternoon. It's 13, I mean it's one o'clock. The meeting is now called to order. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor move to approve the agenda is present. Councilmember Avarez. Mayor, I'll second that motion. All in favor, yes, all opposed, no. You up can councilman Kendrick, is that yes? Okay. Six to zero that the record show, Councilwoman McCobb is not present. We will have citizen comments. The first person is Ricky Williams. You will have three minutes. Good afternoon, sir. Well, you were the last one to turn it in here. So Magley on the top. Mix that up next time. Yes, sir. Well, good afternoon, Council and Mayor. Uh today we have the opportunity to do collectively between your citizens and yourself something that will benefit uh the citizens. By moving these elections to November, you know, it gives an opportunity uh to graft on higher elections, which allows um for a greater turnout, greater citizen participation as elected officials. Uh you would want to feel that you have a mandate. That mandate is given to you by increasing the number of citizens that actually have the opportunity um to come out and cast their ballot. Uh there are some issues we know that surround this in making this change um that need to be addressed. Um whether it's uh extending uh at the back end of this, for example. Um I would say that it is appropriate um to pass the resolution um with implementation to come, meaning not to focus on changing the upcoming election in May, since we are already at that cycle. Um that should go on. And then after that, uh in future elections down the road, we understand that you know, potentially there may be someone who has to be extended in order to get this thing to align properly. So if that is an option, um that is the option that I would as a citizen feel comfortable with uh having uh put in place. That is all. Thank you. Good afternoon, you have three minutes. Good afternoon, Madam Mayor and esteemed council members. My name is Otetiani, which is Cherokee for Master Orator, so I'm quite honored to live out my name here. Um I have one moment, please. God dogged it. I'm good. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to speak on the value of a uniform election date. I've been on the earth over six decades, traveling extensively and never calling any place home. I've lived in clean seven of those sixty some years, and I call Colleen home. The spirit and diversity of Colleen and Bell County is engaging. So much so that I exercised my right to vote. I cast my ballot.