As early voting continues for the Nov. 4 election, The Bandera Bulletin reviewed City Council attendance records for 2024 and 2025 through minutes posted to the city’s website.
In 2024, the council held 20 regular meetings and three special meetings, with three additional meetings canceled. Attendance records show the following absences:
• Tony Battle: 3
• Jeff Flowers: 0
• Brett Hicks: 3
• Debbie Breen: 1
• Lynn Palmer: 0
• Mayor Denise Griffin: 1 So far in 2025, the council has held 16 regular meetings and three special meetings, with two meetings canceled. Absences this year include:
• Tony Battle: 4
• Jeff Flowers: 3
• Brett Hicks: 2
• Debbie Breen: 1
• Lynn Palmer: 1
• Mayor Denise Griffin: 1 That brings the combined totals for 2024–2025 to:
• Tony Battle: 7
• Jeff Flowers: 3
• Brett Hicks: 5
• Debbie Breen: 2
• Lynn Palmer: 1
• Mayor Denise Griffin: 2 Palmer said attendance varies for many reasons.
“Texas does not have a law that requires an individual to attend a specific number of meetings,” Palmer said. “Under the Texas Local Government Code, a general law city council member’s office is considered vacant after missing three consecutive, regularly scheduled meetings without an excuse. Most of our City Council members hold full time jobs. Missed meetings are going to happen because of obligations to full time jobs, family matters or illness.”
Battle said the demands of the position can be extensive.
“Fulfilling the role of Mayor pro tem is a big commitment especially with middle school and high school kids in every major sport and rodeo,” Battle said. “I spend at least 20 hours a week on city related business. All council members have conflicts from time to time, I personally am very proud of what we have accomplished as a council and look forward to continuing my service.”
Hicks noted that council responsibilities extend beyond regular meetings.
“There’s a ton of work that all council members do between meetings,” Hicks said. “I have a young family involved in community events and a job that allow me the opportunity to serve the city of Bandera. Occasionally there will be conflicts and we are working on solutions to allow council members to call in via video if they are unable to attend in person for whatever reason. I’m incredibly proud of the job the current council has done over the past two years.”
Breen said her absences were due to illness and travel issues.
“In 2024 my missed meeting I was sick,” Breen said. “In 2025 my missed meeting was because my flight was canceled and stuck in Alaska for 2 extra days.”
Early voting is underway for the Nov. 4 election, when Bandera voters will decide three City Council seats, several Bandera ISD trustee positions and 17 proposed state constitutional amendments.
On the Bandera City Council ballot are incumbents Tony Battle, Brett Hicks and Debbie Breen, along with challengers DeAnna McCabe, Cindy Coffey, John Teich Jr. and Tammy Ott Morrow.
In the Bandera ISD election, Place 5 trustee Brittany Hicks and Place 6 trustee Heidi Battle are unopposed incumbents.
Three candidates — Rich McCarty, Debra Killian Martinez and Crystal Black — are seeking the Place 7 position vacated by Greg Butler, who is not running for re-election.
Early voting began Monday, Oct. 14, and runs through Friday, Oct. 31.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 29, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.
Election day is Nov. 4.
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