Overview
Two candidates are running for Mayor in 2024: Joe Herring, Jr., and Roman Garcia. Both are currently serving as city councilmembers — Roman Garcia in Place 1 and Joe Herring, Jr., in Place 2.
Herrring’s term expires in 2024, whereas Garcia’s current term wouldn’t expire until 2025. However, since Garcia has chosen to run for Mayor, according to City Charter rules, he must resign his seat on Place 1 after the election regardless of the outcome. Therefore, Garcia will either serve as mayor or will be completely removed from council in May 2024. Herring, similarly, will also either serve as Mayor or not at all.
Age
Joe Herring, Jr., is 62 years of age. He was the youngest mayor in Kerrville history when elected to office in 1992.
Roman Garcia is 22 years of age. When he was seated on council in 2021, he was the youngest city councilperson in Kerrville’s history.
See the section below about each candidate’s experience in office.
Residency
Both candidates are residents of Kerrville.
Career
Joe Herring, Jr., owns and operates his family’s business, Herring Printing Company, which was established in 1964. Herring is also the author of three published books about the history of Kerrville featuring numerous rare historical photographs of the city and the area.
Roman Garcia works with his father in the IT field.
Higher Education
Joe Herring, Jr., graduated with a BBA from the University of Texas in 1982.
Roman Garcia has not received any degrees from institutions of higher learning. In March, Garcia appeared to claim that he had already received a college degree on his campaign website. When the media reported that he was enrolled but not yet graduated, Garcia amended his website to show his true academic status.
Experience in Elected Office
Herring served as the city’s youngest mayor from 1992-1994. He served on city council from 1990-1994. Herring was elected to City Council Place 3 in 2022 and currently serves in that position. Herring has a total of roughly seven years experience in local elected office.
Garcia was the youngest elected official in Kerrville’s history when he began his service on City Council Place 1 in 2021. He was re-elected to the seat in 2023. He has three years experience in local elected office.
Property Tax Rolls
Herring owns property in Kerrville and is current on his property taxes.
Garcia has never owned property in his name and has not paid any ad valorem property taxes.
Leadership and Nonprofit Service
Garcia, as far as we can tell, serves on one nonprofit board — Kerrville Little League — where his father is the president of the board.
Herring has served on numerous nonprofit boards and received various awards and accommodations — too many to list here. Visit this link to see an extensive list of Herring’s local community involvement: https://www.kerrvilletx.gov/1973/Place-3—Joe-Herring-Jr
Kerrville Forward’s Endorsement
Garcia has consistently been a contrarian on City Council, with numerous votes going against him by a vote of 4-1. He routinely belittles staff, lobs accusations of impropriety without evidence, and bickers with other members of the council. He often changes his position on issues as they come up for votes at different times, sometimes voting against something and then later voting in favor of the same question. Garcia is endorsed and supported by extreme elements of the Kerrville political landscape.
Herring has been a humble public servant during both of his periods in public service — in the 1990s and today. He works closely with staff and other members of the council to learn about the issues and to express his opinions clearly. He has supported many of the recent positive initiatives in Kerrville such as housing, the public safety complex, and quality of life improvements.
Kerrville Forward proudly endorses Joe Herring, Jr., for Mayor of Kerrville.