Mansfield City Council

Members serve three-year terms. Positions are unpaid and provide no computer, cellphone or other equipment but pay travel expenses to attend out-of-town events as a city representative.

Mayor

Special election to fill remaining two years of former Mayor Barton Scott's three-year term, which ends in 2010.

Name: David L. Cook

Age: 36

Occupation: Business and family lawyer

Online: none

Background: Law degree from Texas Wesleyan in 1996; has law practice with state Sen. Chris Harris; former aide in both the state House and Senate; active in Mansfield Cares, which helps children of low-income families; coaches youth sports league teams; co-founded Anderson, Cook and Harris Christmas Project, which provides Christmas toys to the needy; co-founded Love Helps Ministries for families in crisis.

About the candidate: Cook grew up in Mansfield and is a certified mediator. He opposes a tax rate increase but says he will work to beef up the Department of Public Safety. He wants to limit apartment development and increase quality commercial development to make up for tax losses from slowing home construction.

Name: Bryndan Wright

Age: 41

Online:www.wrightformayor.org

Occupation: Insurance agent

Background: Master's degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington; Fort Worth schoolteacher, 1990-93; aide to former U.S. House Speaker Dick Armey, 1996-99; ran against U.S. Rep. Martin Frost in 2000; Texas Railroad Commission policy director, 2000-02; candidate for Mansfield council, 2003; president-elect of the Mansfield Sunrise Rotary Club; Chamber of Commerce executive board member.

About the candidate: With nearly half of the city's land undeveloped, managing growth is critical, Wright says. He says that the council needs a consensus builder at the helm who will listen to the council and residents before deciding, and that money must be found for more public safety workers and better pay. He says the city probably has enough starter homes and should continue to increase housing standards.

Place 6

Incumbent Michael McSpadden is not seeking re-election.

Name: Marvin Kahlden

Age: 60

Occupation: Electrical contractor

Online: none

Background: Council member, 2002-05; during that time he served on council subcommittees for drainage issues and architectural building standards, and as council liaison to the Mansfield Economic Development Corp.

About the candidate: Kahlden says his council experience will help streamline the council business process. He says he would find ways to expedite some duties, especially gas and oil drilling permits, and keep working on economic development with a goal of eventually lowering the tax rate.

Name: James Rudnicki

Age: 36

Occupation: Civil attorney specializing in construction issues

Online: none

Background: Master's degree in geology and law degree from the University of Texas at Austin; Kiwanis Club of Mansfield member and Kiwanis adviser to the Mansfield High School and Summit High School Key Club, a student service organization; narrowly lost an election runoff last year for a Mansfield school board seat.

About the candidate: Rudnicki wants to focus on quality growth -- new industry, retail and entertainment venues -- while maintaining a sense of community. He also wants to focus on maintaining roads, completing park system plans and adding police officers and firefighters.

Place 7

Incumbent Larry Broseh is unopposed and will keep his seat until 2011.