Two Candidates Vie for Plano City Council Place 7 Seat

Plano voters will decide who fills the remainder of the Place 7 council term after two candidates, Shun Thomas and Colleen Aguilar Epstein, filed to run before the December 1 filing deadline. The filings followed Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Julie Holmer leaving the council to run for Collin County Commissioners Court Precinct 4, a resignation the council accepted in October. The city secretary provided official filing information for the contest.

A special election is scheduled for January 31, 2026, with early voting set for January 14 through January 27. The winner of the special election will serve on the city council through May 2027. These compressed timelines mean voters who want to influence local policy must act quickly to confirm their registration and learn polling locations for early voting or election day.

The vacancy on the council has implications beyond the chamber itself. Place 7 is a voice on municipal decisions that intersect with county services, regional transportation planning, and local land use rules. With Holmer pursuing a county seat, the contest highlights the flow of local leaders between city and county government and the importance of voter engagement in shaping that leadership. For residents of Collin County who live in Plano, the outcome will influence neighborhood priorities and the citys coordination with county level initiatives.

Next steps for voters include verifying voter registration status and planning to vote during early voting or on election day. Under Texas law voters must be registered 30 days before election day, which for the January 31 election falls on December 31, 2025. Collin County residents may confirm registration and find polling locations through the Collin County Elections office online at collincountytx.gov/elections. City officials and the city secretary will continue to publish election notices and candidate filings as the special election approaches.

Local civic groups and neighborhood associations are expected to monitor the race and inform voters about candidate forums and issue briefings. Participation in the early voting period can provide greater flexibility for working residents and those with scheduling constraints, making awareness of the timeline essential for shaping Planos representation through May 2027.