SMITH COUNTY — In the upcoming local elections, voters in Tyler will have a chance to choose who will be mayor from 2018 to 2020.
The mayor presides over the six-member Tyler City Council, which votes on major policy issues in the city such as budgeting, zoning and law enforcement.
The mayor is elected by the entire city of Tyler, and serves for a maximum of six years, or three two-year terms. The position is volunteer, and the mayor does not receive any stipends, according to the city of Tyler.
The city is run as a council-manager system in which the mayor and council hire the city manager and vote on major policy items, but the city manager is responsible for daily operations and hiring other city employees.
Martin Heines, a real estate professional who has been mayor since 2014, is seeking to be re-elected to his third and final term. Perennial candidate Joel Rando, who owns a cell phone repair business, is running against him for the third time.
Historically, Heines has handily defeated Rando. In 2014, Heines defeated Rando with more than 90 percent of the vote. In 2016, Heines defeated Rando and a third candidate, again with more than 90 percent of the vote.
As the election unfolds, Heines has been citing progress the city has made under his leadership and advocating for additional focus on the city’s basic infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer.
Rando has called for increasing public safety throughout Tyler and bringing more businesses to the area but has not laid out a clear plan for achieving his vision.
Early voting in the election runs from April 23 to May 1. The election is Saturday, May 5.
