PRINCETON, Texas — Once a small town is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Princeton is on the brink of making a major decision. A mayoral runoff election between current Mayor Brianna Chacon and challenger Eugene Escobar Jr. is set for Saturday.
"We've got a fantastic foundation but having that proper leadership is going to ensure we get there," said Chacon who has been mayor for the last four years and is also a local realtor.
With its population growing from 6,900 in 2010 to 46,000 today, the city is thriving but faces challenges as it races to keep up with infrastructure demands and maintain its identity. According to challenger Escobar, he feels the city his family has called home for more than a decade is losing that identity.
"It [did feel] safe. I feel like we're losing that safe touch of this city," said Escobar. "The decisions we make today is really going to shape the future of Princeton," he said.
Escobar, a 33-year-old IT company owner with a young family, is emphasizing transparency and trust as his campaign pillars. He says a "small group" of people in city hall have lost touch with its residents. Escobar argues that recent policy decisions have overlooked the community’s needs, which he attributes to a disconnect between leadership and residents.
"We're not open with what the city is doing on future plans and it's always just wait and see," said Escobar. "I think when you have somebody who wants to effect change who don't look like what the current status is, people see that as a threat."
Both candidates have improving infrastructure as their core priorities, focusing on upgrading roads and water and sewer, improving broadband access, and expanding resources for police and fire departments to support Princeton's growing population.
"You have to have economic development to make sure you have the proper infrastructure in place," said the mayor.
"We are not able to hire them as quick as the residents are moving here. If we want to launch our city to be the very best we have to have the very best," said the mayor who is most proud during her tenure of the people who have been brought in to lead the city.
Chacon believes her experience makes her the most qualified candidate to address Princeton's challenges moving forward. The mayor supports the moratorium the city installed this year on new home construction until infrastructure can catch up with demand. The city has the opportunity to extend that moratorium in January.
Chacon got 41% of the vote in November and Escobar Jr. got 27% of the votes, sending the mayoral race into a runoff. Election Day for this mayor runoff is scheduled for Saturday and polls are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.