The Village of Salado and Salado Public Library District will hold joint elections with in-person early voting beginning April 22 at the Salado ISD Administration Building, 601 N. Main St., Salado.

April 22 is the last day to apply for a ballot by mail. May 3 is the last day to receive ballot by mail (by 7 p.m. if envelope is NOT postmarked. May 5 is the last day to receive ballot by mail (by 5 p.m. if envelope IS postmarked.
In-person early voting will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 22-25 and April 29; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 26 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. April 28;.
Election Day, polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 3 at Salado ISD Administration Building, 601 N. Main St. Salado.
The Village of Salado election will decide three two-year terms on the Board of Aldermen. Seven candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order: Jesse Mondragon, James (Jim) Lassiter, JoAnn Purser, Allen Sandor, Scott Hamilton, Neil Dunch, Gail Allard II.
The following Proposition A will appear on the Village of Salado ballot: “Reducing the tax rate in the Village of Salado, Texas for the current year from the adopted rate of $0.4860 per $100 of valuation to $0.3612 per $100 of valuation.
Every election, Salado Village Voice features a series of introductions of the candidates and questions and answer with the candidates in the weeks leading up to the election.
This week, we introduce the candidates as they appear on the ballot.

Jesse Mondragon
Greetings, my name is Jesse Mondragon, originally from Corpus Christi, Texas and have been a proud Salado resident since September of 2022.
I am an Army Veteran with 3 combat deployments as a Combat Engineer. I have over 13 years of Law Enforcement experience, 7 of which were with the Killeen Police Department.
I have a degree in Homeland Security & Emergency Management and currently serve as the elected Sargeant at Arms for the Salado American Legion Post 585.
I have spent my entire adult life either serving my country or community. With my background in law enforcement, I bring valuable knowledge about crime prevention, public safety strategies, and community policing. This expertise is crucial when making important decisions about the future of Salado’s public safety.
I’m deeply appreciative for being given an opportunity to further serve the great citizens of Salado and I humbly ask for your vote in our upcoming election.

James (Jim) Lassiter
Hello….my name is Jim Lassiter and I am a candidate for Village Alderman. I have been a Salado Main Street commercial property owner for 23+ years and continue to be so as I write. I have also lived in Salado for the past eight years.
My professional background/career stems back to 1984 after attaining both my BBA and MBA from TCU. I was hired by Temple-Inland Corp, a large publicly traded company, to work in their real estate subsidiary known as Lumbermen’s Investment Corporation.
Over a 20 year career with them and attaining a Senior Vice President title, I worked in all facets of commercial real estate including finance, property management, long-term investments and both residential and commercial land development. Much was learned in such time dealing with eight different municipalities, and both state and federal regulations. I’m 2003, I left the company and started a small private company both investing in smaller income producing properties and developing two subdivisions and a retail center near Dell Diamond in Round Rock. I continue today on a much more modest basis doing the same.
I have been married for 43 years and helped raise three wonderful children (four young grandchildren) with all doing well on their own in real world.
Lastly, my desire is to manage Salado’s growth in a responsible manner without forgetting why most people moved here. Its charm, uniqueness, culture and history are great building blocks from which to grow, but never to forget or diminish in our future . Thank you.

JoAnn Purser
It’s a pleasure to introduce myself. My name is JoAnn Purser, and I’m seeking your support in the upcoming Alderman election in Salado. While I recently moved here to be closer to my family, my commitment to public service spans over five decades in Bell County.
My deep respect for Salado’s rich history and the achievements of past leaders is paramount. This respect stems from a lifetime dedicated to community betterment. My experience encompasses a wide range of roles, from serving as a Sunday school teacher and PTA president (at multiple elementary and middle schools) to leading organizations like the Junior League of Killeen and the Metroplex Hospital Foundation (where I chaired the gala for its first four years). My involvement also includes holding the office of Vice President of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce and serving on the Killeen City Council and the Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees—a role that culminated in my presidency and the prestigious TASB Master Trustee designation. Governor Abbott further recognized my contributions with the honor of the Yellow Rose award.
My home was featured in the Salado Historical Society’s December 2024 Homes Tour, and I thoroughly enjoyed participating in that wonderful community tradition. Since moving to Salado, I’ve been actively engaging with residents, learning about your priorities, and striving to understand the unique needs of our town.
I’m eager to continue this journey of collaboration, working tirelessly to serve you and contribute to Salado’s continued success. I can be reached at [email protected] or 254-535-5100

Allen Sandor
Hello Salado! I am Allen Sandor and I am running for Salado Alderman. I live, raise my family and work right here in Salado. We own two office buildings in the Historic District on Main St and a home in the Village. I own a few businesses but my main company is Sandor Homes. My wife Brandy, and I, have been together for over 20 years and have two beautiful and smart children together. We were married at the Halley House on Main St. Our businesses and family have consistently given to numerous local fundraisers and participated in local volunteer opportunities throughout Salado for over 15 years. Brandy and I are both Army brats who love Salado and call it home. I am running to bring my real estate development and business management experience and resources to this board to help plan for all of the inevitable changes facing Salado today. I want to help navigate and manage how that growth happens so as to protect Salado’s charm and inherent beauty. I do not consider myself a politician. I am extremely resourceful. I work very hard on anything that I am a part of. I am not a “yes man”. I love God, family and my work. I enjoy traveling, motor sports, hunting, saltwater fishing, golf and BBQ’ing. I am asking for your vote to be a Salado Alderman on May 3. Thank you for this opportunity!
Scott Hamilton
Hello Salado, I am Scott Hamilton. It’s a privilege to introduce myself to you as one of the candidates for Salado Alderman. As Vice President of Product Management, with a background in Geology and Geophysics, I bring a unique skill set leading people and products with science, engineering, and math to deliver data driven results.
Originally from the town of Bunkie, Louisiana, I became a Texan in 2014 after a move to Houston, making my way to the Austin area in 2017 where I met my wonderful wife, Katie. In 2022, while we prepared for the birth of our first daughter we knew we needed to leave the Austin area, so we began our search. Katie, being from Waco, and growing up on her grandparents property near the confluence of Salado Creek and the Lampasas River, was very fond of Salado. After our first visit, we knew where we belonged. We closed on our home in June 2023 and welcomed our second daughter in 2024.
I am running for a seat on the board of Alderman because I care about this community and I want all of us to be proud to call Salado home. My goal is to ensure that we are a data driven body, we are always finding the signal in the noise, and that we deliver unbiased results. While I may be new to politics, I am not new to leading people and ensuring every voice is heard. Thank you for this opportunity to serve you.

Neil Dunch
My name is Neil Dunch, and I am running for Alderman. I plan to leverage my expertise to help us manage the unprecedented growth within our Village. As a resident of Salado for the past six years, I have had the privilege of being part of this wonderful community. As a small business owner of Inn on the Creek Properties, I have firsthand experience with the challenges of our rapidly growing village. Our municipality has an opportunity to embrace growth while preserving our heritage.
I bring to this role a background in Industrial Engineering and Business Management, with over 27 years of global corporate experience at Dell and Schlumberger. Additionally, I have a solid background in private equity, where I was an investor and Vice President of Operations for CSAT Solutions, a mid-size technology company. These experiences have equipped me with the tools necessary to address key issues such as roads, protecting our unique heritage, public safety, sustainable development, and maintaining a balanced budget.
My vision for Salado is one where every resident feels heard and valued. I believe in fostering a transparent government that works collaboratively with its citizens to create lasting positive change.
I am married with three grown children, which enables me to focus more on our community. I have also served as a board member of the Salado Community Foundation for the past couple of years.
I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming election.

Gail Allard II
Hello, Salado neighbors. My name is Gail Allard and I have been a member of the community since 2011 when I opened my glassblowing studio, Salado Glassworks. My wife and I, along with two children moved to the Village in 2015. Both of my kids, Gail III and Olivia attend Salado schools.
As a member of Salado’s business community, I received the Salado Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year award for 2023 and the Citizen of the Year award for 2013. I have been fortunate enough to find my place as one of a few glass studios in the great state of Texas and bring that offering here in Salado. I have navigated my business through major highway construction that nearly killed our Village. I managed through confusing building codes and regulations when I expanded my business into its current location. I was recruited by one of our neighboring cities to move my studio South, but I did not. I am a member of a group of investors that are interested in smart community growth around the Royal St. Area.
My family and I own a farm in Milam County and most of our free time is spent working the land. I am a Hunter Mentor for the Texas Wildlife Association’s Adult Learn to Hunt Program.
I believe that the best things are yet to come and I am 100% committed to helping our Village, if I am asked to help.
Thank you.