Frisco’s mayoral race is headed to a runoff between former Frisco ISD board trustee Mark Hill and retired construction business owner Rod Vilhauer. No candidate won more than 50% of the vote, triggering the June 13 runoff. Hill and Vilhauer each had about a third of the vote with nearly all results reported Saturday.
Residents went to the polls to vote in a historic city election where an open seat for mayor was on the ballot for the first time in nine years. The city’s population, which now sits at about 245,000, has grown by around 40% since the last time residents had such an opportunity in 2017.
The election will influence the course of development in Frisco, where about 13% of land is left to be zoned. The election was also dominated by discussions about racial diversity in the city. Frisco’s population is about 30% Asian, and the city made national headlines a few months ago when activists spoke about alleged H-1B visa fraud and an “Indian takeover” at City Council meetings.
Hill, who ran under the slogan “Unite Frisco,” said he has seen the benefits of diversity up close when serving on the school board and called his Indian neighbors an “integral part of the community.” Vilhauer, a Christian conservative, said he is running to rid Frisco of Sharia. On a podcast he said South Asian immigrants were moving “in and out of Frisco like rats” but later said he wanted to work with the Hindu-American community in the city.
In addition to Hill and Vilhauer, former City Council members John Keating and Shona Sowell were on the ballot to succeed incumbent Mayor Jeff Cheney, who is term-limited. Both Hill and Vilhauer, who have never served on the council, said they would bring fresh leadership if elected. Hill touts his experience helping attract companies to Frisco as a member of the city’s economic development corporation. Vilhauer argues his experience in the construction business would be valuable as mayor.
Residents also voted for representatives for two City Council seats. Laura Rummel, incumbent council member for Place 5, is being challenged by IT professional Sreekanth Reddy and semi-retired technology executive Vijay Karthik. Rummel appeared to be headed for another term, with a sizable lead over her opponents.
Four candidates are running for Place 6, a seat left open by incumbent Brian Livingston, who is term-limited. The candidates include chair of the city’s planning and zoning commission, Brittany Colberg, nurse Sai Krishnarajanagar, chiropractor Matt Chalmers and retired urban planner Jerry Spencer. Colberg was ahead with a little over half the vote.
Israr Nasir said he was motivated to vote because of “disinformation” spread about ethnic and religious minorities by Vilhauer.
“I’ve heard some disturbing stuff being said,” Nasir, who is Muslim, said. “We want to … continue to live here. God knows we pay our share of property taxes.”
College student Subhash Somu who is South Asian and grew up in Frisco said he was concerned by the “H-1B crisis” in the city and believes the visa program is being abused. A Republican, he backed Vilhauer for mayor because he was endorsed by the Denton County GOP.