Elgin Chamber to Host Candidate Forum Ahead of May Election

The free event aims to engage voters and provide a neutral setting for learning about local office hopefuls.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 12:00pm

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The Elgin Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum on April 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Elgin ISD Administration Auditorium. The event is designed to encourage local election participation and allow voters to learn about potential school board and municipal representatives. Candidates will answer prepared questions on community issues, and the chamber has invited all candidates who filed for the races.

Why it matters

Local elections have a significant impact on schools, infrastructure, and daily life in the community, but voter turnout is often low. The candidate forum provides an opportunity for residents to engage with the electoral process and make informed decisions about their local representatives.

The details

The forum will be structured as more of a conference than a typical debate, with candidates answering prepared questions that are intended to be fair and informative. In Elgin, the mayoral and four City Council seats will be on the May 2 ballot, as well as two Elgin Independent School District trustee positions. Incumbent mayor Theresa McShan is running for reelection and will face challenger Stephanie Lippke. Several other council and school board races are also contested.

  • The candidate forum will be held on April 1, 2026 from 6-8 p.m.
  • Early voting for the May 2 general election runs from April 20-28, 2026.
  • Election day polling locations will be open across Bastrop County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 2, 2026.

The players

Heather Bloom

President of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the candidate forum.

Theresa McShan

Incumbent mayor of Elgin who is running for reelection.

Stephanie Lippke

Challenger running against incumbent mayor Theresa McShan.

Bryon Mitchell

Elgin ISD Board President and District 1 Trustee who is facing a challenger.

Cheryl Reese

Elgin ISD District 2 Trustee who is being challenged by two opponents.

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What they’re saying

“Local elections shape our school, infrastructure and daily life. This is a chance for voters to hear directly from candidates in one place.”

— Heather Bloom, President, Elgin Chamber of Commerce

“We will be choosing questions that are not intended to be onesided. They're going to be fair — they're going to be informative.”

— Heather Bloom, President, Elgin Chamber of Commerce

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This candidate forum provides an important opportunity for Elgin residents to engage with the local electoral process and make informed decisions about the future of their community. By attending the event and learning directly from the candidates, voters can play a vital role in shaping the direction of their schools, infrastructure, and daily life.