Election 2025
killeen daily herald | Sunday, April 20,2025
Is it time for a new city hall?
Voters will choose whether to support a $155 million bond for a new Killeen govt. facility By Kevin Limiti Killeen Daily Herald
The $155 million bond for a new city hall will finally come to a vote on May 3 as Proposition B. Early voting in the municipal election begins on April 22. The bond has been widely debated, lambasted by critics but supported almost unanimously by the Killeen City Council. A final design for the new city hall has not yet been settled on, but several options have been explored that included different modules with surface-level parking and parking garages. All of the potential options were located in downtown Killeen. City leaders want the new building to go in downtown Killeen — where many city offices are now — to help spur economic activity in the downtown area. However, keeping the city’s top administrative building in north Killeen means south and west Killeen residents would be farther away from it. A drive from the current City Hall, 101 N. College St., to Killeen Police Department’s headquarters in south Killeen takes about 18 minutes — over 7 miles on city streets, according to Google. The current Killeen City Hall was the original Killeen High School, built in 1923 and renovated to become Killeen City Hall in 1993. The city of Killeen estimated that it will actually cost an estimated $306 million in total over 30 years due to the city likely having to pay an interest rate of 5% on the debt, according to city documents. This would increase the current debt owed by the city, which is around $217 million. The city owes about $173 million in principal with an estimated $43 million to be paid in interest. If approved, the new city hall potentially could bring the city’s total debt to about $523 million. City Manager Kent Cagle has taken issue with these numbers, though he did not deny that they were accurate, since they came from city documents. However, he argued that they were part of a worst-case scenario and weren’t typical. The city of Killeen had spent $25,000 on marketing for the bond project. However, there was not much evidence of marketing from the city until this week when it released a video featuring residents Bill Paquette and Don
Courtesy Image | City of Killeen
Inset photo is of a rendering that shows an example of what a new Killeen City Hall could look like if a bond election is approved for May 2025.
Photo File | Herald
Above photo is of Killeen City Hall.
Smith, emphasizing the need for Americans with Disabilities Act compliant city buildings. Other than that, Mayor Debbie Nash-King sent photos of a flyer outlining the details of the bond project as evidence of marketing and Councilman Jose Segarra responded saying they were giving but flyers at the Spring Night Farmers Market, which are on Friday nights in downtown Killeen. Christy Wilbanks, candidate for District 4, argued against voting for the bond because there were other issues in the city of Killeen she thought should take priority. “We don’t need a new City Hall just to consolidate a couple of departments to be in one location. Most residents don’t go to all of those departments at once in one day, it’s very rare,” Wilbanks said in an email. “Having a new building and promoting it by saying that several departments would be under one roof just doesn’t sell for me, especially when we are going into the 2026-year budget with a 2 Million dollar deficit and,
the residents of Killeen will feel the impact of their taxes going up.” She also said she saw no evidence of the $20,000 for marketing being utilized. “The information on the City Website regarding this bond is the same and hasn’t changed since they approved this bond election,” she said. Councilman Joseph Solomon, who is running for re-election District 2, said he supports the bond, but it’s ultimately up to voters. “I support this bond because it represents more than just a building; it symbolizes our commitment to improving local governance and enhancing the services we provide to our residents,” he said in an email. “Currently, our City Hall is operating beyond its capacity, which hampers our ability to serve citizens efficiently. A new facility would not only accommodate our growing population but also provide a space for public services under one roof.
This would lead to improved accessibility and a more streamlined experience for residents.” “If the bond passes, citizens can expect to see a modern, functional, and welcoming City Hall that reflects our community’s needs and values. We have to wait and see what the voters decide,” he continued. Sherry Volpicella, who is running for District 1, said she did not support the bond. “I am against the election bond (Prop B) because our citizens can not afford more taxes,” she said in an email. “If anything, money should be going to fix our existing infrastructure. Not building vanity projects.” The other candidates, which include Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Gonzalez, running for re-election for District 1, Veryn Valentine for District 2 and Anthony Kendrick for District 4, did not reply by deadline. However, Gonzalez has previously spoken in support of the new City Hall bond.
Killeen Councilman Michael Boyd faces recall on May ballot By Kevin Limiti Killeen Daily Herald
Voters will decide on May 3 whether to recall Killeen Councilman Michael Boyd, which is on the Killeen ballot as Proposition A. However, Boyd will only be facing consequences potentially to his political future and reputation as he is not running for reelection, and his term will expire in May. But Boyd is apparently not worried about that. “The recall election remains an absurdity and carried no weight in my decision to withdraw from the 2025 General Election, nor will it impact my current service to the community — as I will have already served my entire term,” Boyd said in an emailed statement. “Pass or fail, I cannot be
Michael Byod Killeen Councilman
removed from Office so it’s not something I’m losing any sleep over.” The effort to recall Boyd garnered enough signatures to place it on the ballot after a petition from registered voters was confirmed by the city secretary in September 2024.
plan; and public disrespect and silencing of citizens.” The petition was confirmed with 218 qualified signatures, with 202 being the necessary minimum. Boyd refused to resign — which was an option in lieu of a recall election — and many people, including former council members, spoke up in his defense at a September meeting. Councilwoman Nina Cobb voted Mellisa brown against calling for Boyd’s recall Recall petition filer election despite the fact that the The petition was filed by former council members were obligated to approve it. councilwoman and constant Boyd, a two-term councilman, rabble rouser Mellisa Brown, has represented west Killeen whose stated reasons for the since 2021. He left open the recall was that Boyd was “willpossibility of serving Killeen fully and intentionally ignoring and disregarding citizens; putting sometime in the future even as he announced that he would not be the safety of the public second; not following the comprehensive running for reelection.
INDEX Check out other election preview stories in this edition.
Page 2 Early voting locations
Page 2&3 Killeen City Council races
Page 4&5
Killeen school board
Page 6
Heights City Council
Page 7
Belton City Council
Page 7
Belton school board
Page 8
Temple City Council
Page 9&10 CTC board