An influential North Texas church leader is once again encouraging his congregation to vote in local elections and to consider candidates whose values align with biblical principles.

During Sunday’s service in Southlake, Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church—a multi-campus megachurch based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex—highlighted several local candidates on the May 6 ballot who are part of the “church family.”

“We have some brothers and sisters in Christ that are members of the family of churches that I want to just show you and let you know they’re running for school board or city council or whatever,” Morris said.

The names of 10 candidates were displayed on a screen, along with voting dates, while Morris spoke.

“I want you to know, Gateway Church does not support or endorse any candidate or any political party,” he said. “But we do endorse biblical principles, and we do believe that as good citizens, we should vote in national, state, and local elections.”

“Many of you see what Satan has been trying to do, even in our school systems,” he added. “We haven’t been voting for school boards and for city councils, and these are very, very important elections.”

All 13 of the local candidates highlighted by Morris during last year’s local elections won their races.

The current candidates whose names were displayed:

Carroll ISD
Eric Lannen, Place 2

Grand Prairie City Council
Jorja Clemson, District 1

Grapevine-Collleyville ISD
A.J. Pontillo, Place 5
Richard Newton, Place 6
Mary Humphrey, Place 7

Keller City Council
Ross McMullin, Place 6

Keller ISD
John Birt, Place 4
Chris Coker, Place 5

Northwest ISD
Jennifer Stephens, Place 5
Jo Pendergrass, Place 6

In addition to city and school board candidates, more than 100 school districts and 10 cities have bond propositions on the ballot that will increase local residents’ property tax burdens.

Early voting is Monday, April 24, through Tuesday, May 2. Election Day is Saturday, May 6.

Erin Anderson

Erin Anderson is a Senior Journalist for Texas Scorecard, reporting on state and local issues, events, and government actions that impact people in communities throughout Texas and the DFW Metroplex. A native Texan, Erin grew up in the Houston area and now lives in Collin County.

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