Two Troup City Council seats will be on the ballot in the May 3 election. (Contributed Photo)

Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of stories on local races that will be on the ballot in the May 3 election in Smith County.

Two Troup City Council seats will be on the ballot in Smith County’s May 3 election, with mostly new candidates stepping forward, eager to contribute to the city’s growth and development.

Troup will elect officials for city council Place 4 and Place 5, an unexpired term, or the remaining portion of a term when an elected official leaves office before their term is complete.

Nolan Jeske is seeking election to Place 4 after being unanimously appointed to fill Place 5 in November 2024, following Fielding Winchester’s resignation. Jeske will face Kaston Kincade for the seat, while Susan Adams and Amy Louis Murawski are competing for Place 5.

Place 1 is held by Dianne Layne, and Place 3 is held by Brandi Barton. Both races had no opponents. Chip Richardson used to hold Place 4.

Troup uses a place system for its city council elections, meaning candidates file for specific seats, but eligible voters can cast ballots for candidates running for any seat.

Residents must be registered to vote in the May 3 election by April 3. Early voting runs from April 22 to April 29 at specific places and Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Place 4

Nolan Jeske has lived in Troup for over 30 years, moving to East Texas in 1991 from South Texas. He graduated with a horticulture degree from Texas A&M University in 1980 and has worked at a greenhouse in New Summerfield throughout his time in Troup.

Jeske has been involved in the city’s beautification efforts, donating plants and helping maintain downtown planters. He hopes Troup continues to expand, but in a thoughtful and realistic way.

He was appointed to the Troup City Council in October 2023 and has learned a lot about how the city works. He’s back in the race for re-election because he wants to keep making a difference in the community.

One of the most important issues Jeske focuses on is fixing and improving the city’s roads. He knows Troup is growing, with new subdivisions being built, and that the city must be ready for more residents and businesses.

Jeske believes it’s important to keep Troup’s infrastructure strong to support this growth.

He values transparency and is proud Troup has earned a transparency award every year since 2015 and plans to continue making sure the government stays open and accountable to the people.

Troup has grown economically under the current leadership, Jeske said, with new land acquisitions and no major debt. He said grants and low-cost loans will be key to funding more city projects.

Jeske has built many strong relationships in Troup, including serving as a song leader at a local country church. He’s also been a member of the Cherokee County Farm Bureau board for about 25 years, which has given him experience with agriculture and local community issues.

Jeske wants to keep improving Troup’s parks. Recently, the city added new playground equipment and resurfaced the water park. He believes these changes will make the city more appealing to new residents and businesses.

He credits his neighbor and former council member Winchester for inspiring him to serve. He said Winchester saw his strong Christian values and encouraged him to make a difference on the council. Jeske hopes to live up to those expectations, if he is elected, to continue his work for the city.

Jeske has one daughter, 27, and loves fishing. As he gets ready to retire, he plans to do more volunteer work to help his community in new ways. In his re-election campaign, Jeske promises to keep serving with honesty, common sense and a focus on Troup’s long-term growth.

Kaston Kincade is a lifelong resident of Troup with strong family ties to the community.

Kincade graduated from Troup High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science and modern hospitality from Stephen F. Austin University and a teaching certification. Although he isn’t currently teaching, he coaches over 150 girls in competitive cheerleading at Spirit of Tyler, preparing them for high school and college cheerleading.

His coaching experience has taught him about teamwork, leadership and working with different personalities — skills he believes will help him serve on the Troup City Council.

“It has definitely helped me grow into the person that I am,” Kincade said.

Kincade feels it’s time for the younger generation of Troup ISD graduates to take on leadership roles in the town. He believes his grant-writing skills could help improve Troup by securing funds for road repairs and home repair assistance for residents.

“Growing up as a little boy in Troup, it was known as the neighborly town, there’s not one neighbor in Troup that I don’t consider family,” he said.

He hopes to restore traditions and build a more connected community. His vision for Troup’s future focuses on housing development, better roads and improved recreational spaces. He is concerned about the slow housing growth and the poor condition of local streets.

He believes these improvements are long overdue and should involve the whole community.

“There’s no vote on what we want, and the people need to vote,” he said, emphasizing the importance of involving residents in decision-making.

To get the community involved, Kincade has been reaching out to residents, letting them know he’s back in town and distributing brochures and yard signs to encourage voter participation.

“It means a lot to me,” Kincade said about running for city council, noting the personal significance of filling a role once held by respected community leader, former council member Richardson.

Kincade is committed to making Troup a better place for families. He believes Troup’s strong family values make it the best place to raise children.

“Troup is hands down the best place to raise a family,” he said. With his passion for the community and his vision for its future, Kincade said he is determined to help Troup thrive.

Place 5

Since relocating to Troup in 2016, Susan Adams has become involved in the community, drawn to its small-town charm and close-knit feel.

Adams has been a Texas Realtor for two years, helping families find homes and attracting businesses that fit Troup’s needs. She is vice president of the Troup Elementary PTO, where she organizes fundraisers, plans a teacher appreciation lunch and helps with school events.

Over the last year, she became more interested in local government because she sees how it shapes the town’s future. She believes good leadership is important for making sure Troup grows while keeping its small-town charm.

“Strong leadership is important to help our community grow in a way that benefits everyone without losing what makes Troup special,” Adams said. “We don’t need to be as big as Tyler, but we can support our local businesses and bring in new ones to keep the town strong.”

Adams graduated from Whitehouse High School in 1995. She attended Tyler Junior College and East Texas Baptist University before stepping away from college to raise her family. Later, she earned her real estate license and keeps learning through industry training. She and her husband have two children: a daughter who graduated from Troup High School in 2017 and a son who attends Troup Elementary.

Adams first got involved in local government when she applied for an open seat on the Troup City Council. Though she wasn’t chosen, she was encouraged to run for future elections. Now, she regularly attends city council meetings and wants to help shape the town’s future.

“I’m committed to seeing downtown thrive,” Adams said. “There’s been progress, and I want to keep working to improve our community.”

Adams sees her role as a bridge between the city council and the people who live in Troup. She talks with people at local businesses and the school to hear their concerns and ideas.

“Being involved in the community gives me a chance to understand what’s important to residents and help guide the city toward decisions that help everyone,” Adams said.

She knows not many people get involved in local elections or meetings, so she’s working to improve communication between city leaders and residents.

“My goal is to stay available and encourage ongoing conversations,” Adams said. “I want to make sure people know their voices matter and that city decisions reflect the community’s needs.”

She also wants more people to attend city council meetings, something she’s come to enjoy over the past year. While Adams is happy with the progress the city council has made, she sees areas that still need work, like local roads.

“The city has done a great job responding to residents, like bringing back animal control services,” she said. “We now have a new animal control employee helping with street dogs, and the city posts about lost animals to help them get back to their owners.”

She also praised the council for updating parks but said there’s still work to do. Adams wants to see downtown flourish, enhance the town’s charm and ensure that as it develops, Troup retains that cozy, small-town feel.

“Growth shouldn’t come at the cost of losing the small-town feel that makes Troup unique,” Adams said. “We can grow in ways that keep what makes this town special.”

She also believes it’s important to stay calm and respectful when talking about community issues.

“Remaining calm and respectful is important for good discussions,” she said. “Everyone wants to be heard. By listening, acknowledging concerns and working together, we can find solutions.”

Amy-Louis Murawski is originally from Rockford, Illinois. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art history and a certificate in modern art studies from Christie’s Education in New York City.

Murawski lived in New York for about 20 years, working as a commercial real estate agent. After a brief stay in New Hampshire, she moved to Dallas eight years ago. Murawski has lived in Troup since August 2023.

During her time in Dallas, Murawski operated a private gardening business that focused on creating designs and planning landscapes. She focused on high-maintenance projects like shade gardens and vegetable gardens, providing personalized services.

Seeking a change, and after exploring several options, she chose Troup and has been happy with her decision. She is eager to get more involved in the community.

“In Dallas, I didn’t feel safe, it was expensive and it was not worth it,” Murawski said. “[In Troup] I feel safe, I feel comfortable and that’s priceless to me.”

Murawski is a Texas notary and has also served as a notary in New York and New Hampshire. She believes her problem-solving skills and business experience make her a strong candidate for city council.

“I understand the establishment very well, and I’m a very strong negotiator,” Murawski said.

Murawski has already made contributions to local issues, including advocating for improvements to the town’s water quality. She worked with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and public works to temporarily change the town’s disinfectant from chloramine to free chlorine.

This change, she says, led to noticeable improvements in the water quality.

As a “quality-of-life” advocate, Murawski focuses on improving roads, maintaining clean public spaces and ensuring Troup remains a welcoming place for residents and visitors.

“It’s a great town. There’s areas that are being addressed,” Murawski said. “We need to really look at certain areas in Troup where some of these roads need a little bit extra attention.”

With her background in commercial real estate, Murawski brings experience in contract negotiation, budgeting and project management. She has overseen renovations and managed projects, keeping them on schedule and within budget. She understands municipal partnerships and is ready to advocate for the town’s best interests.

Murawski sees herself as a collaborative problem solver, eager to work with fellow council members to address local issues. She values transparency and community engagement.

Her top priorities, if elected, include improving water quality, road maintenance and addressing the use of herbicides by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). She has written to TxDOT, asking them to stop using Roundup and suggesting alternatives.

Murawski is also working to improve internet access in Troup. Many residents struggle with unreliable Wi-Fi, so she is in talks with Starlink to bring better broadband options to the town.

She also wants to improve communication with residents. Murawski said the city’s website is the primary source of information for many, but much of what she learns about local issues comes from community interactions or social media, especially Facebook.

Murawski proposed making the city’s website more interactive and accessible, allowing residents to easily contact city leaders or submit concerns. Improving the website’s functionality would foster greater transparency and help residents stay more connected with the city.

“Growing up in or living in somewhere like New York City, understand, this is a completely different world. This is a family,” Murawski said. “ I want to be involved. I want to know what’s going on…And I want to be a part of it, and I want to make sure that there’s other ideas.”