SPI City Council Candidate Forum set October 13

By DIANTÉ MARIGNY

editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

Voters will have the chance to hear directly from local candidates when the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce hosts its City Council Candidate Forum on Monday, October 13, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at 7355 Padre Blvd.

The forum will feature candidates running for Place 1 and Place 2 on the South Padre Island City Council.

For Place 1, Ken Medders and Joe Praster will face off.

For Place 2, Esteban Flores, Aarin Hartwell, and Kerry Schwartz are vying for the seat.

Hosted each election season, the Chamber’s forum gives residents an opportunity to hear each candidate’s perspective on the Island’s most pressing issues—ranging from infrastructure and tourism to beach management and long-term community planning. The event aims to promote civic engagement and transparency by allowing voters to compare candidates’ priorities side by side.

Questions for the forum were accepted in advance and will be presented by a moderator during the discussion.

With two open seats and several familiar faces on the ballot, the upcoming election is expected to draw strong community interest as voters help shape the Island’s direction in the years ahead.