The make-up of Katy’s city council will be changing in 2026 as four of the five council seats are up for grabs.

Ward A council member Dan Smith has resigned in order to run for the Waller County Precinct 4 Commissioner position where he will face Brian Cantrell. Smith’s unexpired term ending in May 2027 will be filled in a special election scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris, who holds an “at large” position, is not able to run again due to hitting his term limit; Councilmember Janet Corte from Ward A, first elected in May 2018 and re-elected in November 2020 and May 2023 is also term-limited and unable to run again. Councilmember Rory Robertson, who represents Ward B, was elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2023 and is also at the end of his term.

The remaining member of Katy’s city council is Gina Hicks, who has represented Ward B since 2021. Her term will be up in 2027.

Joining the race for the city council spots are (in date order of declaration of candidacy):

*Durran Dowdle (December 12), a former city council member who represented Ward B from 2014 to 2020 and also served as mayor pro tem from 2017 to 2019, has announced that he will be running for council in May, although he did not specify if he was running for Ward B or for the at-large position. Dowdle, who retired from Brown & Root, was appointed by Mayor Don Elder to serve on the City of Katy Board of Adjustments in 2007 and then to the Convention and Tourism Bureau Board where he served from 2007 to 2014. Currently, Dowdle serves as a board member for the Village of Katy, appointed by Mayor Dusty Thiele in 2025. Dowdle and wife of 41 years, Terri, have lived in Katy since 1987 and have two daughters who graduated from Katy High School.

*Michael Payne (December 13), former candidate for mayor of City of Katy who ran unsuccessfully in 2025, has declared his candidacy for the Ward B position. He has lived in Katy for 17 years and Graduated with an A.A.S. Associates Business degree at HCC in May, 2025 in technology and works in IT for his parents’ local business, Advanced Roofing Solutions LLC.

*Paula Taylor (December 15), teacher at Katy High School since 1996 and nine-year board member for Keep Katy Beautiful, has announced her intention to run for the Ward A position. Paula and her husband Jim have lived in Katy for 40 years, according to Jim Taylor’s Facebook post. Paula Taylor attended Harding Academy from 1979 to 1982, according to her Facebook page.

*Lyn Hunter Sullivan (December 16) announced her candidacy on Facebook but did not specify which position she is seeking. Sullivan is a graphic designer who has lived in Katy since 1985, attended Katy High School and raised two children in the city. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design, graduating magna cum laude from The Art Institute of Houston, and studied journalism and marketing at the University of Houston. She was involved in the initial creation of the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce and oversaw the Central Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Fulshear Area Business Division for several years. Sullivan has also served on the City of Katy Animal Advisory Board and sat on the Executive Board for both Katy Elementary PTO and Katy Junior High PTA. Additional executive board roles include the Katy Junior High Choir Association for six years, Tiger Swim Club, and One Katy PAC. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors for Fulshear Community Outreach.

*Paul Follis (December 16) is a long-time Katy resident, and a retired 34-year veteran of Law Enforcement who previously served on the City of Katy’s Planning and Zoning Commission and currently serves on the City’s Convention and Tourism Board. He has also served on the Mayor’s Downtown Advisory Group. Follis and wife Rebecca have been married for 30 years and have raised their three children in Katy. Follis holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and a master’s degree in security management and retired as a captain with the Houston Police Department, where he managed hundreds of people and budgets in the millions of dollars Follis did not specify which council position he is seeking.

The 2026 Regular Officers' Election for the City of Katy will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026. For more information, go to cityofkaty.com/government/city-departments/city-secretary/elections.