Leander - Liberty Hill Edition | January 2026

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Leander Liberty Hill Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 10 JAN. 22FEB. 19, 2026

Brought to you by our premium gold sponsor: 2026 Health & Wellness Edition

Wellness hub brings options to Leander area The 240,000-square-foot facility brings together health, wellness, sports, dining and entertainment

INSIDE

SCOTTSDALE DR.

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The Crossover is home to dozens of health and wellness businesses on the Cedar Park and Leander border.

COURTESY AARON CASH

Also in this issue

Impacts: From sushi to a Yemeni coee shop, check out new oerings in Leander (Page 6)

Elections: Prepare for Leander’s special election and the March primaries (Page 16)

Government: Learn more about Leander and Liberty Hill’s ongoing water projects (Page 20)

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

EIS ANDY FOR LEANDER CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4

Trusted Neighbor and Leader

VOTE EARLY: JANUARY 26 - FEBRUARY 6

ELECTION DAY: FEBRUARY 7

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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Impacts

Leander

Coming soon

5 Cedar Tech A new development near Scottsdale Drive in Leander is set to bring over 350,000 square feet of industrial and flex industrial space.

W. BROADE ST.

2243

• Completion expected Fall 2026 • 2305 Scottsdale Drive, Leander • www.liveoak.com/listing/cedar-tech-i

Leander

6 BASIS Leander A new tuition-free elementary school, middle school and high school—serving grades K–12—has opened in Leander. The charter school maintains a focus preparing students for success in college and beyond. • Opening Fall 2026 • 8770 FM 2243, Leander • www.enrollbasis.com/texas

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MUNICIPAL DR.

HIGH CHAPARRAL DR.

HIGHLAND FALLS DR.

SCOTTSDALE DR.

What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

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IT’S TIME! Tired of candidates you can’t reach? Ones who only point out the same old problems? Well, I bring solutions. Ask me about them today. 512-534-9522 9 Hopdoddy Burger Bar Construction on a new Hopdoddy Burger Bar is slated to begin in early January as part of the Gateway 29 development. Work is scheduled to last until late June, according to the TDLR filing. • 19389 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 100, Leander • www.hopdoddy.com 7 Sky Zone Construction on a new 29,000-square-foot Sky Zone location is expected to begin in March, according to a TDLR filing. Work on the trampoline park is set to conclude in November. • 1611 Scottsdale Drive, Cedar Park • www.skyzone.com 8 Chipotle Mexican Grill Build-out for a new 2,385-square-foot Chipotle is projected to start in early May and conclude in October. Currently, there is one other Chipotle located in Leander. • 10745 E. Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander • www.chipotle.com

MAP NOT TO SCALE

3 Dau Sushi The restaurant, led by owner and executive chef Dau Maran, offers fresh sashimi and chef-driven specialties that balance classic technique with modern flair, according to the company’s website. • Opened Dec. 3 • 2082 N. US 183, Ste. 115, Leander • https://dausushi.toast.site 4 Little Lotus Preschool The new preschool opened its doors in the Leander community in early October, celebrating its grand opening Dec. 17. The school is a small nature-based program where students learn through play. The school accepts enrollment for ages 0-5. • Opened Oct. 6 • 1607 High Chaparral Drive, Leander • www.littlelotuspreschool.com 45 TOLL .

Now open

1 Advance Auto Parts The store sells auto parts and accessories. It also offers free services, including check-engine light scanning, battery testing, and installation of certain parts. • Opened Dec. 4. 1431

• 681 W. Broade St., Leander • www.advanceautoparts.com

Cedar Park

2 Jersey Mikes The franchise is owned by Corby Cronin and open seven days a week, joining 3,255 locations nationwide. • Opened Dec. 31 • 11312 Hero Way West, Ste. 160, Leander • www.jerseymikes.com

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LEANDER

SPECIAL ELECTION: JAN 26-FEB 7 VOTING ONLY AT Pat Bryson Municipal Hall 201 N. Brushy St.

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POLITICAL ADV. PAID FOR BY ANNETTE SPONSELLER FOR LEANDER CITY COUNCIL PLACE 4

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

In the news

Now open

Worth the trip

10 Rejuvenation Vibe Room The wellness business relocated to in early December. The concept offers non-clinical services such as vibroacoustic sound therapy, halotherapy and Reiki energy healing. • 1640 Highland Falls Drive, Ste. 502, Leander • www.therapybyellisa.com/theviberoom 11 Vital Society Leander wellness business True Test has been renamed Vital Society. Co-owner Cara Parsons confirmed the name change and said everything else about the

business is remaining the same. • Name change December 2025 • 1735 N. US 183, Ste. 202, Leander • Instagram: @vitalsocietytexas

13 Qahwah House A new coffee shop selling Yemeni coffee, tea and pastries held its official opening in Leander in late 2025. Owner Adil Mufti said the practice of brewing and roasting coffee beans originated in Yemen. Mufti imports coffee beans directly from Yemen and adheres to traditional methods. • Opened Nov. 26 • 14300 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Stes. 305 and 306, Leander • www.qahwahhouse.com

14 Claw Haven The Asian-style claw arcade is owned by Michael Lu, Bradley Wong, Vicky Lee and Peter Song. Claw Haven has a variety of claw machines with prizes including Pokémon plushies, POPMART Labubus and BABYTHREE Blind Boxes. The goal for Claw Haven is for every visitor to leave feeling like a winner, according to the company’s website. • Opened Dec. 6 • 1550 Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 103, Cedar Park • www.clawhavenarcade.com

12 JVM Bullion Owned by local Vinay Pattni, the company purchases a range of precious metals from customers for cash, including scrap metal, old jewelry, collectible coins, bullion, watches and estate pieces. • Opened Oct. 1 • 2301 S. Bagdad Road, Ste. 402, Cedar Park • www.jvmbullion.com

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

" , " % & ' (" I'm asking for your vote from January 26th to February 7th so that TOGETHER we can move Leander forward. % & ' ( " I'm asking for your vote from January 26th to February 7th so that TOGETHER we can move Leander forward. " , " ,

, ! , " ! " # ! $ # V & %'() " * # % " + % ,'-./... I earned the trust of three different councils !$ • Protect a local animal welfare non-profit from a $60,000+ burden. My opponent publicly criticized the appeal. ! $ 0$ # 0$# As Mayor Pro Tem I VOTED YES to… • Moving forward with the voter-approved Senior Center after delays raised the cost taxpayers by $1.4 million. • Upgrading our water systems after short-sighted decisions by my opponent to sell our water to other cities. " * # % " + % " # ! $ # & % '() V , '-./... I earned the trust of three different councils , ! , " , ,

Na'Cole

There is only ONE polling place this election from January 26th to February 7th: Pat Bryson City Hall in Leander. Pat Bryson City Hall in Leander. There is only ONE polling place this election from

' !)!*++,-*+./ ' ! ) ! *++,-*+./

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Impacts

Liberty Hill

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

of authentic Mexican and Central American products, including fresh produce, tortillas and spices. • Opened Jan. 5 • 13750 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 102, Liberty Hill • Facebook: Mercado Libertad

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Coming soon

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4 Panda Express The chain American-style Chinese restaurant is scheduled to open in Liberty Hill this summer, according to a company representative. The restaurant will be located along Hwy. 29 in the Heritage Ridge retail development. • Coming soon June 2026 • 12291 W. Hwy. 29 • www.pandaexpress.com

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MAP NOT TO SCALE

SEWARD JCT. LOOP

2 Wish Kitchen + Bar Central Texas business owner Mike Farr and his sons Bradley and Dylan Farr collaborated to open Wish Kitchen + Bar. All menu items are made from scratch in-house, Mike Farr said. • Opened Nov. 28 • 1004 Main St., Liberty Hill • www.wishkitchenandbar.com 3 Mercado Libertad The Latino grocery store is now open, offering a variety

Now open

Closings

1 San Gabriel Roadhouse Decor Locally owned by Tony Garcia, the vintage goods and decor store buys, sells and trades “unique items” for man caves, she sheds, patios and barbecue areas. • Opened in November • 1100 Main Street, Liberty Hill • Facebook: San Gabriel Roadhouse Decor

5 Margarita’s The Mexican restaurant permanently closed on Jan. 5, according to a Facebook post from the restaurant. • Closed Jan. 5

• 10280 W. SH 29, Liberty Hill • https://margaritason29.com

LARRY NANCE for Texas Senate District 5 Join the Movement for Positive Change Bringing Experience and Dedication to Public Service • Residents deserve a real voice in government. I will establish quarterly community advisory groups to ensure local ideas and concerns directly shape legislative decisions. • Reduce the property tax burden, especially for seniors, so Texans are not taxed out of their homes. • Reform the property appraisal process to strengthen property owners’ rights and ensure fairness. • Remove regulatory barriers to make it easier to build and provide affordable housing. • Reform credit reporting practices that unfairly punish Texans working to secure financing and build financial stability. Paid for by Larry Nance Campaign

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

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Health & wellness

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Health & Wellness Edition 2026

Welcome to our annual Health & Wellness Edition! The older I get, the more I find myself thinking about wellness. What once felt like a squishy, loosely defined concept I did not give much weight to now seems to be everywhere I look—and increasingly relevant to my own life. For this guide, we focus on wellness rooted in health—stories about parks, the YMCA, digital detoxing and other ways to get moving in the new year. We launched this guide last year and have spent significant time discussing what wellness means and which topics best serve our readers. If you have lived in a Community Impact market for some time, you may know that June is our Health Care edition. That guide centers on hospital development, public health spending and services unique to each community or needed in our rapidly growing areas. The list of potential stories for that edition is endless, and many do not make it to print. As we reviewed those stories, we noticed a common thread. Many fit squarely into wellness—or, as the World Health Organization defines it, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

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Future uncertain for Leander Municipal Athletic Complex

The future of the planned Leander Municipal Athletic Complex is uncertain after the design pro- cess identified significant challenges with regard to water, according to Ty Meighan, communications manager for the city of Leander. Meighan said in an email that those challenges include drainage, flood plain issues, and access to wastewater. “Before the City of Leander commits to spending additional funding to address these issues, the city is evaluating to determine if there is a more fiscally prudent option for the park,” Meighan said. “The evaluation is continuing, and the city has not yet made a final decision on the project.” The background The park plans were approved by the Leander City Council in May 2023, with an expected 2025 opening. The plans call for the park to be built along US 183 on the north bank of the south fork of the San Gabriel River.

Community Impact previously reported that the complex would cover about 77 acres and would offer a variety of amenities, including: • Six softball fields • Multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, cricket and rugby • Playscape • Walking and hiking trails The project has been in the works for years and was a part of Leander’s 2016 bond package.

Bond funding breakdown

Recreation center $18M

Senior center $4.2M

$22.5M Transportation projects

Total: $70.9M

Parks and park improvements $26.3M

2016 voter-approved bond funding Total bond funding Allocated athletic complex phase 1 funding

183A TOLL

$70.9M

$10M

SOUTH FORK SAN GABRIEL RIVER

NOTE: PREVIOUS REPORTING FOUND THE SPORTS COMPLEX WAS INITIALLY ALLOCATED $10 MILLION, THOUGH NEWER ESTIMATES INDICATE ADDITIONAL FUNDING MAY BE REQUIRED.

SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Health & wellness

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Twin Lakes Family YMCA expansions slated to open by summer

What's next

“We’re really excited about this,” Arredondo said. “We think it’s going to really be a great thing to bring to not only the Cedar Park community, but all of our surrounding Central Texas areas, and then, of course, anybody from outside of our area looking for something to do. We’ve got so much great tourism available here now.” The YMCA of Central Texas is still open to donations to help cover the cost of the expansions. The following naming opportunities are available for donations of a certain amount:

Two major projects at the Twin Lakes Family YMCA in Cedar Park are slated to open at the end of May, Laura Arredondo, YMCA of Central Texas chief marketing ocer, said. The YMCA broke ground on the Avery Family Pavilion and the ORR Family RCI Adventure Course in May 2025. The pavilion will serve as a place for everything from sports to birthdays and weddings. The RCI Adventure Course will feature zip lines, ropes courses, a sky trail and multilevel climbing structures for children and adults. The ORR Family RCI Adventure Course will be the only course of its kind in the greater Austin area, Arredondo said. In all, the projects will cover about 20,000 square feet.

• Breezeway for $25,000 • Party deck for $25,000

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• Concession stand for $15,000 • Ticketing booth for $15,000 • Picnic tables for $5,000

E. LITTLE ELM TRAIL

The ORR Family RCI Adventure course is under construction at the Twin Lakes Family YMCA.

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COURTESY YMCA OF CENTRAL TEXAS

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Wellness hub brings options to Leander area From the cover

CONTINUED FROM 1 The Crossover sits on the border of Cedar Park and Leander, bringing together a range of businesses offering recreational and competitive athletic train- ing as well as dining, events, physical therapy and more. The facility opened in 2020, but Eric Perardi, a Central Texas real estate developer, started plan- ning out what The Crossover could be in 2015. Perardi played collegiate Division 1 ice hockey and is a father to four children who were all involved in unique extracurricular activities, including hockey. The experience of being an athlete, coupled with ushering kids to different sporting events, led him to create a hub for all families to find entertainment under one roof— similar to a mall. “The real vision that I went to my investors with and our partners and the team was, ‘Could we create an environment where a family could come and they could have multiple things to do with all of their children and then they could meet up for food and dinner or time together?’” Perardi said. Now, it’s home to two ice rinks, an outdoor field, pickleball courts, food trucks, a church and more. “This is more than a wellness center or an ice rink [or] a sports facility,” Mel Kirkland, Cedar Park city council member, said. “It’s a lifestyle. It is a com- plete lifestyle place for people in the community.” Adam Powell, general manager with Oak View Group, oversees daily operations, and also comes from a hockey background. “We try to treat everyone in this building like they’re family and try to make them all feel like they’re a part of the team,” Powell said. In the future, The Crossover expects to welcome more tenants, including a children’s gym, as well as expand parking to include 55 additional spots and a drop-off area. Crews are working on additional park- ing to help mitigate parking lot congestion, which is The Crossover’s biggest problem, Perardi said.

Sports 1 HK Taekwondo The facility is home to USA Taekwondo National Team members and offers classes for ages 4 and older. • Ste. 100D • www.hk-tkd.com 2 i9 Sports The youth sports organization offers leagues and clinics for flag football, soccer and baseball. • Outdoor turf at Ice & Field at The Crossover • www.i9sports.com 3 Lonestar Soccer Club The youth soccer program offers leagues and camps for children ages 3-18. • Outdoor turf at Ice & Field at The Crossover • www.lonestar-sc.com 4 Müv Dance & Fitness The studio offers recreational classes and competitive dance for students ages 18 months and older. • Second floor of The Crossover • www.muv678.com 5 Austin Metro hockey Association The association provides recreational and travel leagues as well as introductory programs for youth. • Ste. 100 • www.austinmetrohockey.org 6 Pro Ice The ice skating pro shop sells boots and blades, apparel, accessories and related services. • Ste. 102 • www.instagram.com/pro_ice_ 7 Spike Frog Volleyball The program offers recreational youth training and leagues. • First floor of The Crossover • www.spikefrog.org 8 Austin Velocity Volleyball Club The competitive volleyball club offers training and

Activity center layout

First floor

MAIN ENTRANCE

13 14

7 8

19A 5

INDOOR ICE AND FIELD

1 15

OUTDOOR ICE AND FIELD

2 3 19B

17 18

Second floor

+0.5 PER ADDITIONAL POINT SIZE

-0.5 PER ADDITIONAL POINT SIZE

INDOOR ICE AND FIELD

1 15

SOURCE: CROSSOVER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

9 TPH Academy Austin The program offers athletic training and instruction. • First floor of The Crossover • www.tphacademy.com/austin 10 Fieldhouse at The Crossover The concept offers pickleball and sand volleyball courts. • Ste. 160 • www.thefieldhousetexas.com

camps for players ages 11-18. • First floor of The Crossover • www.austinvelocity.com

Paid For By The Campaign Of Kathryn Pantalion-Parker

Kathryn PANTALION-PARKER FOR MAYOR OF LEANDER Do e Right ing, Honor Everyone TRUSTED AND ENDORSED BY: Williamson County Republican Leaders Constable Je Anderson Commissioner Cynthia Long

Early Voting Jan 26 - Feb 6 Election Day Feb 7

KATHRYN’S PRIORITIES Improve Transportation Fiscal Responsibility Keep Taxes Low Economic Development

Donate Now

KP4Leander@gmail.com • www.kp4leander.com • facebook.com/Kathryn4LeanderMayor

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY KATLYNN FOX

15 HK Nutrition Registered dietitians and nutritionists offer meal planning, education and recommendations. • Ste. 100D • www.hknutritiontx.com 16 Harbor Leadership Academy The independent school offers personalized education and training for students with learning disabilities. • Ste. 103 • www.harboracademy.org

Health and wellness 11 ROI Physical Therapy & Sports Performance The business offers physical therapy, strength training, nutrition consultation and massage services. • Ste. 220 • www.teamroi.com 12 Vessel Longevity IV Bar The health and vitality company provides customized IV cocktails, vitamin boosts and shots. • Ste. 120 • www.vessel-tx.com 13 Moench Method Bodywork The massage therapy practice uses myofascial release, ischemic pressure and deep tissue massage techniques. • Ste. 115

Sports

Food options 17 Skye’s Ice

The Italian ice truck serves gluten-free, fat-free, dairy-free and vegan options with acaí bowls and Italian ice scoops. • Outdoor food truck park • www.skyesice.com 18 Summer Blends Cafe The salad bar truck offers vegan and vegetarian options. • Outdoor food truck park • www.summerblendscafe.com

• www.moenchmethodbodywork.com 14 Dynamic Sports Medicine

19 Ice & Field at The Crossover Ice and Field offers indoor and outdoor spaces including two full-sized rinks with public skating, hockey programs, figure skating programs, event spaces and outdoor turf field rentals. • 19A Rinks; 19B Fields • Ste. 100 • https://iceandfield.com

The sports chiropractic facility provides recovery services, cupping therapy, dry needling and more. • Ste. 115 • www.dynamicsportsmedicine.com

1407 N. Bell Blvd. (Hwy 183) Cedar Park  HillCountryWaterGardens.com  512-260-5050

LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Election

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Special Election Guide

2026

Dates to know

Where to vote

Jan. 26: First day of early voting Jan. 27: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Feb. 6: Last day of early voting

Both Williamson and Travis County residents will cast their ballots at a single polling location during both early voting and on election day. The special election voting poll will be located at the Pat Bryson Council Chambers, 201 N. Brushy Street, Leander.

Feb. 7: Election day and the last day to receive ballot by mail (marked ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on election day as long as it is postmarked on or before election day.)

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

Leander Mayor

Kathryn Pantalion-Parker Occupation & experience: Consultative Sales, Personal Stylist/ Fashion Consultant, semi-retired. Volunteer for numerous community organizations. www.kp4leander.com

Na’Cole Thompson Occupation & experience: Mayor Pro Tem, city council member, small business owner, retired banker www.nacolethompson.com

Mike Sanders Occupation & experience: Retired Electronic Engineer, pastored church for numerous years without pay, Experience running meetings. www.mike4leander.com

What makes you uniquely qualified to be mayor of Leander?

Experience- 6 years on City Council, record attendance missing only 3 meetings. Achievements include launching the first transportation and water studies, making the Smart Code optional, and improving ease of doing business through third-party process analysis and reforms. Added CapMetro and sales tax to the ballot, empowering voters to decide.

Leander is home for my family and my business. As Mayor Pro Tem, I handle day-to-day city operations with proven leadership getting real results for residents. Colleagues selected me three times to serve in this role. Endorsed by both Leander firefighters and police associations, residents benefit from steady direction and trusted relationships across city departments and the region.

As an engineer, I regularly create new things that never existed before, by looking at things from new and different perspectives than others have done in the past. I am the only candidate for Mayor who brings new ideas to the table, for solving old problems.

What will be your top priority if you are elected?

When elected, I will keep Leander on a smart-growth path by balancing infrastructure with growth, improving transportation, and returning to lowering property tax rate through fiscally conservative measures. Staff pay improvements were necessary; now balance is key, using targeted commercial growth, disciplined budgeting and job creation as the catalyst.

My top priority focuses on keeping Leander stable and safe as growth continues. My record shows I have supported public safety and will continue to do so while advancing infrastructure, water planning, and commercial development. Clear communication with residents ensures decisions reflect community needs and long-term fiscal responsibility.

Top priorities are to Establish an alternate source for water, Stop approving additional high-density apartment buildings, Stop giving CapMetro half of all our sales tax revenue, Lower property taxes, Maintain strong public safety (police and fire), Improve infrastructure such as roads and parks, and facilitate improved high-speed internet options.

What do you see as the city’s biggest challenge, and what will you do to address it?

Employers and economic development are vital and have made tremendous strides, but the big focus must be jobs. By attracting good employers, supporting small business growth, zoning smartly, simplifying permits, and aligning workforce training with industry needs, we keep workers in town, boost daytime traffic and strengthen restaurants and retail.

Rapid growth places pressure on roads, water, services, and trust. I lead council discussions addressing growth through staff and regional coordination, long- term planning, disciplined budgeting, and resident engagement. This approach delivers clear decisions and measurable progress without sacrificing quality of life.

We have a single source of water that is inadequate, causing us to be constantly under water restrictions. We must take action rather than only talk about improving our water supply. Bring water from alternate sources such as Lake Buchanan or Lake Belton or the aquifer below us.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Leander City Council, Place 4

What makes you uniquely qualified to serve on the Leander City Council? Leander has been my home for the past 15 years, and I’ve had the privilege of serving our community in leadership roles. My service on the Planning & Zoning, Charter Review and Ethics Commissions has given me hands-on experience turning discussion into real outcomes that strengthen Leander.

What will be your top priority if you are elected? My top priority is representing all of Leander while focusing on the fundamentals that keep our city strong—securing our long-term water future, updating the sign ordinance, creating a small business development lead, improving roads and traffic signals, ensuring safe school zones, and strengthening community outreach and citywide trust. My top priority is managing Leander’s growth responsibly and promoting high quality employer and economic activity center developments. Infrastructure, public safety, parks and services must keep up with population growth and development, while protecting taxpayers and preserving the high quality of life that residents expect.

Annette Sponseller Occupation & Experience: Data Analyst; former City Council member, Planning and Zoning Commissioner, and Leander Foundation board member. www.annetteforleander.com Andy Eis Occupation & Experience: Engineer, business leader, youth baseball coach, and Chairperson of Leander’s Economic Development Advisory Committee www.andyforleandertx.com

I am a trusted leader with over 20 years of engineering and business experience managing growth, budgets and cross functional teams. As a parent of young children, baseball coach and Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairperson, I understand how to listen and how city decisions affect families, businesses and community outcomes.

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Election

BY HANNAH NORTON

Primary Election Guide

D Caitlin Rourk D Linda Trevino U.S. Representative District 11 D Claire Reynolds D Pedro “Pete” Ruiz U.S. Representative District 17 D Milah Flores D J Gordon Mitchell D Casey Shepard U. S. Representative District 31

D Caitlin Rourk D Stuart Whitlow State elections Governor R Greg Abbott* R R.F. “Bob” Achgill R Evelyn Brooks

D Zach Vance D Angela “Tia Angie” Villescaz Lieutenant governor R Timothy Mabry R Perla Muñoz Hopkins R Dan Patrick* R Esala Wueschner

R Charles Schwertner D Kevin Nelson D Paul Thomasson State Representative District 19 R George Cambanis R Ellen Troxclair D Javi Andrade D Kelly Hall State Representative District 52 R Caroline Harris Davila R Blayre Pena Williamson County Precinct 2 R Rupal Chaudhari R Jeff Mayes R David McDonald

2026

Dates to know

Where to vote

Feb. 17: First day of early voting Feb. 20: Last day to apply for a ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Feb. 27: Last day of early voting March 3: Election day and the last day for counties to receive completed mail-in ballots (or 5 p.m. March 4 if the carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. on election day)

Registered voters may cast ballots in either Texas’ Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Third-party candidates will appear on the ballot in November. Williamson and Travis County residents can cast their ballots at any polling location within their county. Visit www.wilcotx.gov and www.traviscountytx.gov for polling locations.

D Vikki Goodwin D Courtney Head

R Charles Andrew Crouch R Pete “Doc” Chambers R Arturo Espinosa R Mark V. Goloby R Kenneth Hyde R Stephen Samuelson R Ronnie Tullos R Nathaniel Welch D Patricia Abrego D Jose Navarro Balbuena D Chris Bell

D Marcos Velez Attorney general R Joan Huffman R Mayes Middleton R Aaron Reitz R Chip Roy D Anthony “Tony” Box D Joe Jaworski D Nathan Johnson State Senator, District 5 R Apollo Hernandez R Larry Nance

R William Abel R David L. Berry R John Carter R Steven "Steve" Dowell R Ed Ewald

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY: R Republican D Democrat *Incumbent

R Sara Canady R John Cornyn* R Wesley Hunt R Gulrez “Gus” Khan R Ken Paxton D Jasmine Crockett D Ahmad R. Hassan

D James Talarico U.S. Representative District 10 R Rob Altman R Ben Bius R Robert Brown R Chris Gober R Brandon Hawbaker

R Jessica Karlsruher R Kara King R Scott Macleod R Jenny Garcia Sharon R Jeremy Story D Dawn Marshall D Bernie Reyna

Sample ballot Federal elections U.S. Senate R John O. Adefope R Anna Bender R Virgil John Bierschwale

R Abhiram Garapati R Valentina Gomez R Raymond Hamden R Elvis Lossa R Offer Vince "Shamwow" Shlomi D Justin Early

D Bobby Cole D Carlton Hart D Gina Hinojosa D Faizan Syed

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681

Government

BY DANIEL SCHWALM

Tunnels complete for Lake Travis deep-water intake project All underground concrete work on the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s deep-water intake project is complete, according to Aaron Archer, vice president of civil engineering firm Walker Partners. Archer shared the update with Leander City Council at its Dec. 18 meeting. The background The BCRUA’s Raw Water Intake project will draw water from deep below Lake Travis to provide a reliable, year-round supply for the regional utility, a partnership between Leander, Cedar Park and Round Rock. The project is part of Phase 2 of BCRUA’s regional water system plan. Phase 1 involved constructing a floating barge on Lake Travis capable of pumping about 32 million gallons of water per day, which

Facility to test water purification methods Liberty Hill City Council approved construction for its Advanced Water Purifi- cation Facility, or AWPF, pilot at its Dec. 10 meeting. The pilot facility will test water purifica- tion methods that will eventually be used at the future full-size facility. Construction of the pilot facility is sched- uled for completion in October. The full AWPF design is scheduled for completion in fall 2028, and the final facility is scheduled for completion in spring 2031. However, some City Council members expressed con- cern that the timeline may not be realistic given the current status. The pilot facility is designed as a per- manent structure. After the full AWPF is completed, the pilot facility will be used for public tours, training and future testing.

Water distribution

Phase 2 of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s raw water intake project will allow 145 million gallons per day to be processed.

Leander Cedar Park Round Rock

62 MGD

40.8 MGD

145 MGD Total

NOTE: TOTAL DOES NOT ADD UP DUE TO ROUNDING SOURCE: AIRBTICS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

42 MGD

Archer said is vulnerable to drought and will be discontinued once the deep-water intake is operational. The new system will pump water through underground tunnels to a pump station, then through pipelines to existing water treatment plants in Leander, Cedar Park and BCRUA. When complete, the system will have the capacity to pump up to 145 million gallons of water per day.

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Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & CHLOE YOUNG

Liberty Hill ISD begins school rezoning process

Education news 3 stories we’re following online

Some Liberty Hill ISD students may be reas- signed to a new campus next school year, as LHISD prepares to open three new schools. The big picture In the recommended proposal, Liberty Hill Middle School students would attend Liberty Hill High School, while Santa Rita and Legacy Ranch middle school students would attend Legacy Ranch High School. Most students living east of Ronald Reagan Boulevard would attend Santa Rita Middle School. Students living west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and east of US 183 would attend Legacy Ranch Middle School. Students west of US 183 would attend Liberty Hill Middle School. Lariat Trails would pull students from Liberty Hill, Bill Burden and Louine Noble elementaries while Saddleback Elementary would mostly pull students from Louine Noble.

Future schools opening in Liberty Hill ISD

1 Leander ISD to consolidate Faubion Elementary On Dec. 17, the LISD board of trustees rejected plans to consolidate Steiner Ranch Elementary in the 2026-27 school year, but approved consolidating Faubion and Westside Elementaries.

Opening in 2026 1 Lariat Trails Elementary Schools 2 Legacy Ranch Middle School 3 Legacy Ranch High School Opening in 2027 4 Saddleback Elementary School

2 Leander ISD names acting superintendent Chris Clark was named as LISD’s acting

183

superintendent on Dec. 11. He is the current deputy superintendent of learning and innovation for LISD.

214

3 Liberty Hill ISD names Christina Gamez as principal of Lariat Trails Elementary Bill Burden Elementary Principal Christina Gamez will lead Lariat Trails Elementary, opening in August. The new campus is slated to open in the Lariat Trails neighborhood off County Road 214.

1869

258

SOURCE: LIBERTY HILL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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LEANDER - LIBERTY HILL EDITION

Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD & DANIEL SCHWALM

Upcoming projects

Ongoing projects

Leander

PALMERA BLUFF SUBDIVISION

270

SAN GABRIEL PKWY.

ISAIAS DR.

PALMERA RIDGE SUBDIVISION

PALMERA RIDGE BLVD

1 Crystal Falls Parkway Project: City officials are considering building a railroad bridge over Crystal Falls Parkway at US 183, removing the current ground-level rail crossing and allowing traffic to flow uninterrupted by passing trains. Update: The city is actively seeking a $40 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as additional funding opportunities. The design phase is expected to take around two and a half years, followed by

2 San Gabriel Parkway Project: Phase 2 will see the extension of San Gabriel Parkway eastward from Isaias Drive to Ronald W. Reagan Boulevard between Palmera Ridge and Palmera Bluff subdivisions. Update: A contract with Patin Construction, LLC for construction was approved by city council in January 2025. A new traffic signal at San Gabriel Pkwy. and Ronald Reagan Blvd. is expected to begin flashing and become fully operational by the end of January 2026. • Timeline: January 2025-February 2027 • Cost: $7 million • Funding source: Certificates of Obligation bonds issued by the city of Leander

183

183A TOLL

roughly three years of construction. • Timeline: Estimated completion 2032 • Cost: $103 million • Funding source: TBD

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WHERE HAPPINESS LIVES IN LEANDER

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