Both Lakeway and Bee Cave are entering election season with several seats expiring on their city councils.

Filing begins Saturday and ends March 8 for both cities’ May 8 elections that will see Lakeway council members Dee Ann Burns-Farrell, Bruce Harris and Dave Taylor’s two-year terms conclude, and in Bee Cave, Mayor Caroline Murphy’s and council members Chad Bockius and Mike Murphy’s seats will be up for election as well after serving their two-year terms.
Both groups ran unopposed in 2008, so Lakeway and Bee Cave cancelled their elections.
The following year, however, saw a spike in local politics that drew more candidates stumping for their ballots.
The Lakeway Police Officers Association ignited the campaign trail when it endorsed candidates who filed close to the deadline for the mayor’s office and one of three council seats.
Mayor Dave DeOme defeated Jerry Stein, and council members Alan Tye, Joe Bain and Dennis Wallace won in a plurality vote over Chris Wood.
“It was a big campaign and very controversial,” Lakeway City Secretary Christy Fath said.
Residents responded by turning out to vote in large numbers. Of the 8,252 registered voters in Lakeway at the time, 1,442, or 17.47 percent, cast their ballots.
Six candidates filed to run for three seats on the Bee Cave Council in last year’s election in which Bob Dorsett, Jack McCool and Bill Goodwin outlasted Stephen England and Rusty Kilgo. Incumbent Steve Braasch withdrew his name before the filing period closed so his name did not appear on the ballot.
Of 1,754 registered voters in the city, 504 cast their ballots for council candidates.
“We had a lot of candidates get out there and work to get the voters in,” Bee Cave City Secretary Kaylynn Holloway said.
Voters also approved a 4B proposition authorizing Bee Cave to collect a one-fourth of one percent sales tax to fund road maintenance and repair.
No one has picked up candidate packets at either city hall, but the city secretaries said they expect interest to increase as the filing period progresses.
To run for city office in Bee Cave, eligible candidates must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, must not be mentally incapacitated, not convicted of a felony, reside in the state for 12 months and a be resident of the city for six months. The last day to submit a voter registration application in time to vote in this election is April 8. For information, contact Holloway at 767-6641 or kholloway@beecavetexas.gov.
All office holders in Lakeway must meet all the requirements for public office prescribed by state and federal laws; must be a registered voter residing in Lakeway, or annexed territory, for at least one year prior to the election; must be at least 21 by the date of the election; shall not hold any other compensated public office if elected; shall not be a city employee, contractor or supplier; and shall not be in financial arrears to the city for any reason. If a council member shall cease to possess any of the qualifications prescribed, the person shall forfeit the office.
Applicants may file in person from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Fath’s office at Lakeway City Hall, 1102 Lohman’s Crossing, which is where they also may mail their applications.