A U.S. Navy veteran who has called Corpus Christi home for 44 years, Scott Corliss built his own company from the back seat of his car into a multimillion-dollar operation with nearly 40 employees. He gives an unqualified yes on the Inner Harbor plant and says the first thing he will do if elected is work to place it on the council's first agenda.

Absolutely yes! The Inner Harbor Project is the only fully-permitted drought-proof water source that is on the table for the region. We need to move forward immediately with the Inner Harbor.

• Scott Corliss

An incumbent with 16 years of council experience across two terms, Mark Scott has voted yes on Corpus Christi's water future at every turn: the Inner Harbor partnership, the federal WaterSMART grant application, and the funding needed to keep the project on track.

I supported it when first elected. I support it today. I have listened to the opposition and find no reason to change my support of Inner Harbor.

• Mark Scott

A business owner and community leader for 40 years, Merida Nardone Mendoza is a past Chair of the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. Inner Harbor will be her priority: she backs the plant as currently permitted and says moving it forward will be one of the first things she does in office.

If the current Council does not approve the Inner Harbor Desalination Project, it will be one of the first items I try to get passed as an At Large Councilperson.

• Merida Nardone Mendoza

Mayor since 2021 and reelected twice since, Paulette Guajardo has the clearest, most consistent record of any mayoral candidate on the issue that matters most this November. She voted yes on federal funding for the Inner Harbor desalination plant, personally traveled to Washington, D.C. to advocate for it, and has committed to putting the project back on the agenda for an immediate vote if reelected.

If I am elected, I will place the Inner Harbor Desalination Plant on the agenda for an immediate vote.

• Paulette Guajardo

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses Paulette Guajardo for Mayor.

A chemical engineer with more than 20 years in the refining, chemical, water, and industrial sectors, Tracy McCall has lived in District 1 for nearly her whole life. Water has been the center of her campaign since her first council race in 2022, and her position hasn't changed.

I have supported Inner Harbor desalination since my first City Council race in 2022, and my position has remained consistent. Water security is economic security. If businesses and industries cannot depend on Corpus Christi to provide water, they will invest somewhere else.

• Tracy McCall

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses Tracy McCall for City Council District 1.

A self-employed Realtor of 26 years, Laura Commons currently serves on the city's Water Conservation Committee and has chaired two other city commissions. She backs the Inner Harbor plant as a city-owned water supply, calling it fully studied and fully permitted.

The Inner Harbor desalination project has been extensively studied and is fully permitted. I support moving forward with it as a city-owned water supply. I believe securing a drought-resistant water source is one of the best things we can do for Corpus Christi.

• Laura Flores Commons

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses Laura Commons for City Council District 2.

Robert Rocha spent more than 40 years in fire service, including 11 years as Corpus Christi's Fire Chief. He calls water "the number one issue with our residents" and says he will push to bring the Inner Harbor plant back for a vote in his first weeks on the council.

When it comes to the Inner Harbor Desalination Plant, it is the number one issue with our residents. As a city, we will continue to experience drought, and we need to take advantage of our unlimited resources located in the Gulf. If elected, I will call on the Mayor and the City Manager to place the City's Inner Harbor Desalination on the Agenda for the first meeting in January 2027 and I will vote to approve it.

• Robert Rocha

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses Robert Rocha for City Council District 3.

Dan Herrington brings more than 25 years in community banking to his campaign, and previously served two terms as an elected councilman in Hallsville, Texas. He gives an unqualified yes on completing the Inner Harbor plant and wants the city to aggressively pursue outside grant funding and low-interest loans to get it built.

Based on the work and planning done by multiple prior councils, current permitting, and environmental studies completed, I fully support the project and believe it can be done in a safe and fiscally responsible manner.

• Dan Herrington

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses Dan Herrington for City Council District 4.

David Peña spent 18 years in the refining industry before building a career as a small business owner, and ran a competitive race for this same seat in 2024. His current platform is unambiguous: move forward with the Inner Harbor project.

Corpus Christi must secure a reliable, drought-resistant water source that can serve our residents, businesses, and industries for generations to come. The Inner Harbor project has already gone through years of planning, permitting, engineering, and significant public investment. Rather than continuing to delay while searching for alternatives, I believe the city should move forward with the project that is already permitted and positioned for development.

• David Peña

The Coastal Bend Coalition endorses David Peña for City Council District 5.