Salado Village Voice presents questions and answers with the six candidates for a two-year term as the Village of Salado Mayor. They appear on the ballot as the following: Greg Windham, Michael Hudgens, Joann Purser, Jeff Ingrum, Zach Hurst and Stephen “Po” Powitzy. Question 1: What are your thoughts on economic development agreements with developers? Have previous EDAs been good or bad for Salado? What would you like to see in future EDAs, if any. (250 words) Question 2: The Village recently receive a detailed roads report that estimates the cost to repair and resurface roads in Salado at some $30 million. The board has discussed a bond package for November. What is your stance on this? What roads do you think should be priority? (250 words) Question 3: How will the Village pay its share of the $1 million EPA grant to expand its wastewater treatment plant? (250 words) Question 4: Some local residents have talked about a petition to have an election to disincorporate Salado as a whole. What is your position on this? (250 words)

Six candidates have filed for two two-year terms on the Village of Salado Board of Aldermen. Salado Village Voice features candidate profiles and questions and answers with the candidates leading up to the election, which will be May 2. Candidates will appear on the ballot in the following format: Gail Allard, Michael McDougal, Linda Reynolds, Rick Marruffo, Kevin D. Shoun and Jeff Vancura. Question 1: What are your thoughts on economic development agreements with developers? Have previous EDAs been good or bad for Salado? What would you like to see in future EDAs, if any. (250 words) Question 2: The Village recently receive a detailed roads report that estimates the cost to repair and resurface roads in Salado at some $30 million. The board has discussed a bond package for November. What is your stance on this? What roads do you think should be priority? (250 words) Question 3: How will the Village pay its share of the $1 million EPA grant to expand its wastewater treatment plant? (250 words) Question 4: Some local residents have talked about a petition to have an election to disincorporate Salado as a whole. What is your position on this? (250 words)

Salado Village Voice asked questions of the candidates for two two-year terms on the Salado Public Library District board of directors. They appear on the ballot as the following: Theresa Schwab, Nancy Mills Mackey, Maira Garza, A. Keith Cryar and Christian Wigley. Question 1: According to the 2026-27 budget, SPLD has $963,300 in income. Expenses include $28,500 for the Adult Collection and $20,910 for the Children’s Collection, which is less than 5% of total income.  According to the Library Journal budget survey for 2023, libraries typically spend 8-11% of their total budget on their collections. If SPL followed this example, what kind of materials would you like to see added to the Adult and Children’s collections? (200 words) Question 2: What process does the Library use to choose materials for its collections? Should patrons and residents be more or less involved in the process? Are there books you would like to see added to our Library? (200 words) Question 3: Friends of Salado Public Library supports the library and volunteers. Are there other ways to involve community members in volunteering at the library? (200 words) Question 4: There have been requests to remove books from the Children’s Collection and from the Adult Collection. Do you feel the process itself for handling a request for removing a book from the shelves is fair? Of the challenges so far, do you think the Board made the right choice? Would you have voted to remove any of the books that have been challenged so far? (200 words)

Every year, Salado Village Voice introduces the candidates for Salado ISD Board of Trustees and then hosts a series of questions and answers with them. This year, there are three three-year terms on the board up for election with five candidates, as they appear on the ballot: Will Tipping, James Larremore, Cade Morris, Scott Law and Eric Malmin. Savannah Hennig is running unopposed for a one-year unexpired term.’ Here are the questions we asked each of the candidates: Question 1: What effects do you see the passage of the school voucher law having on Salado ISD? Question 2: What are your thoughts on Salado ISD transfer policy? Question 3: Is Salado prepared financially and in terms of staff for opening a new high school and a new elementary school? What effect do you think this will have on future budgets?