FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (April 6, 2026) – The Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate Forum on Monday, April 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Theater Company located at 1668 U.S. Highway 87.

The forum, held ahead of the May 2, 2026, municipal election, will feature all candidates seeking office with the City of Fredericksburg and will provide voters an opportunity to hear directly from those running. The event is free and open to the public; attendees are encouraged to RSVP in advance.

The evening will begin with a brief presentation on the upcoming Fredericksburg Independent School District 2026 Bond Election. Voting on the bond will be held in conjunction with the city election. After the bond overview, the focus of the evening will shift to the City of Fredericksburg election, where candidates for mayor and city council will address the community.

Two candidates are running for mayor: Randy Briley and Emily Kirchner. Four candidates are vying for two open city council seats: incumbent Tony Klein as well as Charlie Kiehne, Jerry Luckenbach and Gary Neffendorf. The forum will follow a structured format, allowing each candidate time to respond to questions and share their experience, priorities and vision for the future of Fredericksburg.

“As part of our mission to support a strong and informed business community, we host the candidate forum where voters can hear directly from candidates,” said Jim Mikula, President/CEO of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. “This forum gives voters the opportunity to better understand the candidate’s positions on key issues.”

Early voting for both the bond and city election begins Monday, April 20, and ends Tuesday, April 28. There will be no voting on Tuesday, April 21, in observance of San Jacinto Day. All voting will take place at the Gillespie County Elections Office located at 95 Frederick Road. Voting hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20 and April 22–24; no voting April 25–26; and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 27–28. On Election Day, May 2, voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

The Chamber extends its appreciation to Security State Bank & Trust for sponsoring the Candidate Forum and supporting civic engagement in the community.

Additional election information is available on the City of Fredericksburg and Fredericksburg ISD websites. Community members planning to attend the forum are encouraged to RSVP through the Chamber’s website at fbgtxchamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at 830-997-5000.

The mission of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce is to champion our business community through collaboration, information and service.

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