Late mayor on the ballot
Supporterswant voters to pick Powell, despite his death, to force a special election for mayor. His challenger plans to win outright.
The name of the late Conroe Mayor Toby Powell will remain on the Nov. 3 ballot, giving city voters the chance to vote for him and trigger a special election or cast a ballot for his challenger, Councilman Jody Czajkoski.
Powell’s family is urging voters to cast a ballot for the late mayor, saying his dying wish was that voters could choose his successor.
“He loved this city and the citizens,” said his wife, Vanessa. “It was on his mind day and night and even to the point of passing. He wanted them to be able to chose on their own. We will fight to make that happen. He didn’t want someone to walk in default.”
Czajkoski is pressing ahead in hopes of winning the post outright.
“I got in this race as a public servant who is committed to leading this city that I love with vision, energy and integrity,” Czajkoski said. “I’ve always believed that we must focus on the future and make some needed changes so that we can control our growth in a way that maintains our small-town Conroe quality of life. I am running for mayor — have been for nine months now. I’m focused on my plans, my experience and my vision — everything else is just noise.”
Powell lost his battle with cancer Sept. 12 at the age of 79, but his wife says he wanted his campaign to continue, hoping that a victory would force a special election.
A special election would mean the race would be open for others to file to run for the seat, including Czajkoski.
Powell’s involvement in the city spanned decades.
In 1976, he ran for his first Conroe council seat against Sav-Way owner Wallace Lampton. While Powell lost the bid, he won a council seat the next year and served a two-year term. Powell served on the council in 1977 and 1978 and again from2008 to 2012. He then served as mayor pro tem before being elected mayor in 2016.
Vanessa Powell said it is important to her and her family to honor Powell’s request to continue the campaign.
She has spoken at many events around Conroe on why she believes voting for her late husband is important.
Czajkoski said he has no position on a special election but plans on a victory Nov. 3. As for his campaign, Czajkoski said his focus has not changed.
Although Czajkoski is just two years into his first term on the council, he believes his experience as a business owner gives him the tools to be a successful mayor.
“It is important to me that Conroe maintains our small-town feel and quality of life,” he said. “My best qualification is I am the person that solves problems, finds common ground and who brings together a team of diverse individuals to implement the best solutions for the common good.”
Both campaigns are drawing a lot of support, according to Czajkoski and Vanessa Powell.
She said she was surprised by an effort the week of Powell’s death by council members Raymond McDonald and Seth Gibson to have Gibson appointed to fill Powell’s term through the election.
Gibson is term-limited and not on the Nov. 3 ballot.
According to City Secretary Soco Gorjon, Gibson and McDonald requested the item be placed on the council’s Sept. 23 agenda.
After some backlash, the item was removed fromthe agenda before the council’s meeting.
Czajkoski said he was not aware of his colleagues’ plans to put the item on the September agenda.
“At the time it was proposed, I was not aware about the request to appoint longtime and retiring Councilman Seth Gibson as mayor to serve until one could be elected,” he said. “I think that it would have been a great way to honor Councilman Gibson for his 16 years of service while benefiting the city with an interim mayor. However, the timing of the proposal was not ideal, emotions were justifiably high, and the matter became politicized, it became a bigger deal then it should have been. At this point, let’s just get to the election … and move forward.”
Early voting began Tuesday.