ELECTION 2025: BURTON MAYOR

  

As the start of early voting approaches in the May 3^rd elections, KWHI is meeting with candidates appearing on the city and school board ballots.

We shift next to the Burton City Council and the race for mayor between incumbent Karen Buck and Position 3 Councilmember Jeff Eckhardt.

Karen Buck was first elected as mayor in 2023.  She served for over 25 years as a minister, including as an intentional interim pastor for churches in Washington, Fayette, Waller and Harris counties.

Buck says her top priorities are completing the city’s various infrastructure projects, such as the drilling of a new water well, addressing water line breaks and evaluating the wastewater treatment plant and sewer system.  She also wants to make sure any new development seeking to come to Burton fits the city’s own timeline for responsible growth.

Jeff Eckhardt first joined the council after the May 2016 election and served for four years, choosing not to run for another term in 2020.  However, he was re-appointed in 2022 and has remained on the council since.  He currently works as a hospital radiology administrator in Houston, but he says his employer is flexible with remote work opportunities.  

Updating the city’s water and sewer systems are also focal points for Eckhardt, as is supporting the growth of local businesses.  He says he wants to bring the council and the community at large together to create a team that works closely with each other to help the city prosper.

KWHI asked each candidate questions about their future plans and priorities for the city, along with how they will work with the rest of the council and communicate with the public.

Click below to listen to KWHI's full interview with Karen Buck.

Click below to hear KWHI's full interview with Jeff Eckhardt.