OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting: Canvass of Election, Oath Ceremony, and Election of Mayor Pro Tem – May 12, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodyKilleen, Texas
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
1:00

Good evening, everyone.

1:01

Welcome to the uh special council meeting this twelfth day of May.

1:06

I'm glad to see you all are here.

1:08

I hope the same number is here during the budget discussions.

1:14

Um I call this meeting to order.

1:17

The council is all present.

1:20

Of course, that's going to change in a little bit.

1:23

Uh with the uh addition of the prayer and pledge of allegiance.

1:29

Um we get a motion to approve the agenda.

1:36

Umorks all make the motion.

1:42

It's been moved.

1:43

Uh Mayor Pro Tim.

1:45

Uh Albert.

1:47

Second that motion.

1:48

It's been moved and property second.

1:50

All in favor say aye.

1:52

Aye.

1:52

Aye.

1:53

All opposed.

1:54

Motion carries.

1:55

First order business.

1:57

Uh, if Pastor the Leap, Pastor Jonathan Fletcher, Lee Flatcher for Manor Church, if you could lead us in prayer.

2:06

Uh also if you have a cell phone, which I think most of us do, please put it on vibrate, and if you have the answer, please work your way to the outside.

2:16

You join me as I pray.

2:18

Lord Jesus, first we thank you for air conditioning.

2:21

We ask.

2:26

We ask you humbly that this air conditioning would work harder.

2:30

But in seriousness, Lord, we thank you uh for leadership.

2:34

Lord, we thank you for Mayor and uh City Council members who desire to lead in a way that honors you and honors the people.

2:42

Uh Lord, we ask you to be present in this meeting.

2:45

Uh we pray for these elected members that you would give them the grace to do as your word says in Micah chapter six, verse eight, uh, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.

2:58

Lord, be with them in the execution of their duties.

3:01

Be present in this meeting.

3:02

We thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name.

3:03

Amen.

3:06

For our um Pledge of Allegiance will be led by um VFW commander uh nine post commander for ninety-one ninety-two, Augustine Florence.

3:15

Thank you, Mr.

3:16

Mayor.

3:17

Uh ladies and gentlemen, if you could uh face a flag, you'll be the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:22

Prior service military present arms.

3:33

Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

3:38

Order, arms.

3:40

Thank you, gentlemen.

3:41

Please be seated.

3:53

All right, next order of business is citizen comments on agenda items.

3:57

Uh and we have Dr.

4:02

Sue Nisi Croft.

4:04

You have three minutes.

4:23

Okay, here we go.

4:26

Okay.

4:28

Congratulations to the candidates, mayor, council, newly elected officials, and citizens of uh Killeen.

4:35

Tonight I want to uh sincerely congratulate each candidate who earned the trust of the voters and will now take their seats in service to this city.

4:45

Campaigning is not easy.

4:46

Public service is not easy, and the willingness to step forward and lead deserves acknowledgement and respect.

5:00

But tonight I also want to recognize the true runners of this election, the citizens, the people who stood in line, the people who research candidates, the people who believe their voices mattered enough to participate in the democratic process.

5:09

Because these seats do not belong to the individuals, they belong to the people of Kleene.

5:15

Every promise made during the campaign created an expectation, an expectation of leadership, an expectation of accountability, an expectation that the concerns discussed during election season will not disappear once the signs come down and the votes are counted.

5:32

The campaign may be over, but the responsibility is just beginning.

5:37

Leadership is not measured by slogans, it is measured by listening, by transparency, by follow-through, by willingness to remember the people after the election.

5:47

And tonight I want this council to know something important.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Community Engagement███████████████████████30%
Legislative Process█████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting: Canvass of Election, Oath Ceremony, and Election of Mayor Pro Tem – May 12, 2026

The Killeen City Council held a special meeting on May 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers to canvass the returns of the May 2, 2026 general and special elections, administer oaths of office to newly elected officials, recognize outgoing council members, and elect a mayor pro tem. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Riakos Adams, who noted all council members were present at the start, though several would be leaving after the transition.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Sue Nisi Croft addressed the council, congratulating the winning candidates and acknowledging the broader electorate. She emphasized that the 494 citizens who supported her vision for stronger accountability and greater community voice remain engaged, and she urged the council to remember that democracy begins at the ballot box but continues through civic participation and transparency.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance OR-26-009 – Canvass of Election Returns: The council considered an ordinance to canvass the returns and declare the results of the May 2, 2026, General and Special Elections. City staff read the returns, showing that 4,760 voters cast ballots. The vote tallies were: for Mayor – Joseph Solomon: 1,000; for Council Member At-Large – Melissa Brown: 1,126, Nicholas Guajardo: 757, Debbie Nash King: 2,484; for District 3 Council Member – Cameron Cochrane: 312, David Bass: 573, Terry Mustafer: 222. The council also noted that Charles Kimball was declared the winner for District 2 when candidate applications closed (uncontested). The ordinance passed unanimously.
  • Special Recognitions and Remarks: Outgoing council members, including Mayor Adams and Councilmember Solomon, received plaques of appreciation. Mayor Adams gave remarks thanking the community and noting his decision not to seek re-election to focus on family. Outgoing members shared reflections on their service.
  • Oaths of Office and Certificates of Election: Judge Blackburn of Bell County administered the oath of office and statement of officer to the following newly elected officials: Joseph Solomon (Mayor), Debbie Nash King (Council Member At-Large), Melissa Brown (Council Member At-Large), Beverly Ann Williams (Council Member At-Large), David Bass (District 3 Council Member), and Charles Kimball (District 2 Council Member). Each received a certificate of election and a Bell County challenge coin. After the swearing-in, each new council member delivered brief remarks thanking supporters and expressing commitment to serving the city.
  • Standards of Conduct: The city secretary read the eight principles of the City Council's Standards of Conduct, covering honor, equality, obedience to law, conflicts of interest, influence, confidentiality, interference, and civility. All council members signed the standards document.
  • Resolution RS-26-075 – Election of Mayor Pro Tem: Councilmember Debbie Nash King nominated Councilmember Anthony Kendrick for mayor pro tem; the motion was seconded by Councilmember David Bass. However, the vote failed (2 in favor, 4 opposed). Councilmember Melissa Brown then nominated Councilmember Jessica Gonzalez; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Charles Kimball and passed unanimously. Jessica Gonzalez was elected mayor pro tem.

Key Outcomes

  • Canvass of Election Unanimously Approved: The council accepted the election results for Mayor, three At-Large Council Members, and District 3 Council Member, as read.
  • New Council Seated: Six newly elected officials took the oath of office and joined the council.
  • Mayor Pro Tem Elected: Councilmember Jessica Gonzalez was elected mayor pro tem by a 4–2 vote (after the initial nomination for Anthony Kendrick failed).
  • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned following the election of mayor pro tem. The next regular city council meeting was noted for May 19, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the uh special council meeting this twelfth day of May. I'm glad to see you all are here. I hope the same number is here during the budget discussions. Um I call this meeting to order. The council is all present. Of course, that's going to change in a little bit. Uh with the uh addition of the prayer and pledge of allegiance. Um we get a motion to approve the agenda. Umorks all make the motion. It's been moved. Uh Mayor Pro Tim. Uh Albert. Second that motion. It's been moved and property second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries. First order business. Uh, if Pastor the Leap, Pastor Jonathan Fletcher, Lee Flatcher for Manor Church, if you could lead us in prayer. Uh also if you have a cell phone, which I think most of us do, please put it on vibrate, and if you have the answer, please work your way to the outside. You join me as I pray. Lord Jesus, first we thank you for air conditioning. We ask. We ask you humbly that this air conditioning would work harder. But in seriousness, Lord, we thank you uh for leadership. Lord, we thank you for Mayor and uh City Council members who desire to lead in a way that honors you and honors the people. Uh Lord, we ask you to be present in this meeting. Uh we pray for these elected members that you would give them the grace to do as your word says in Micah chapter six, verse eight, uh, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. Lord, be with them in the execution of their duties. Be present in this meeting. We thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen. For our um Pledge of Allegiance will be led by um VFW commander uh nine post commander for ninety-one ninety-two, Augustine Florence. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh ladies and gentlemen, if you could uh face a flag, you'll be the Pledge of Allegiance. Prior service military present arms. Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Order, arms. Thank you, gentlemen. Please be seated. All right, next order of business is citizen comments on agenda items. Uh and we have Dr. Sue Nisi Croft. You have three minutes. Okay, here we go. Okay.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com