Pearland mayoral candidates Tony Carbone and Quentin Wiltz drew a sharp but substantive contrast over taxes, growth, and representation during a recent forum at Dawson High School on March 31. The event, hosted in partnership with the Pearland Chamber of Commerce, gave residents a side by side look at how each contender would lead the city as it heads into the May municipal election.
Carbone, a CPA small business owner who has served on Pearland City Council for 13 years, centered his case on continuity and experience. He described Pearland as being in a strong position, pointing to years of work managing growth, maintaining a solid financial foundation, and investing in infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life amenities on both sides of town. While he acknowledged the city is “not perfect,” he argued that “thoughtful, consistent leadership” has helped make Pearland a place where families can put down roots and have confidence in the future.
Wiltz, a longtime resident who has spent about a decade split between both the east and west sides of Pearland, framed his campaign around “impact, accountability and inclusion.” In his opening remarks, he asked voters to consider whether they feel the impact of “some of the highest taxes in the nation” and “the highest water rates in the region,” and whether they feel included in local decision making. He pointed to early voting hours (which are not determined by the city) as a practical barrier for working residents and argued that voters deserve officials who will confront those issues directly instead of promising to “fix it next time.”
The contrast carried into a question about how each candidate would pitch Pearland to a family considering a move to the Houston area. Carbone answered with a personal narrative, calling Pearland “the city that raised me” and noting that his daughters are seventh generation Pearland citizens. He touted the city’s parks, schools, diversity, and proximity to Houston’s jobs and entertainment, saying Pearland is close enough to enjoy big city amenities but still “feels like a small community” where “everybody’s welcome.”
Wiltz said he would begin that same coffee shop conversation by asking the family why they are moving and what kind of opportunities they expect from their city and its leaders. He referenced national rankings that list Pearland highly, but urged residents to look deeper at the metrics, noting that much of the city’s affordability and opportunity is tied to jobs and institutions in Houston and the Texas Medical Center rather than a strong jobs base within Pearland itself. With tens of thousands of residents commuting out every day, he said, the true cost of living and raising a family in Pearland deserves more scrutiny.
The candidates also differed in how they view the power and responsibility of the mayor’s office. Wiltz described the mayor as “the voice of the council” and emphasized the need for someone who understands the “shared experiences” of residents in both old town Pearland near Highway 35 and newer communities across Highway 288. He linked those experiences to rising property taxes and fees, especially west of 288, and said his focus would be on how decisions affect residents’ lifestyles, not just “numbers” on a spreadsheet.
Carbone agreed that the mayor does not typically vote under Pearland’s council manager form of government, but said the role is still “critical in shaping outcomes.” He noted that the mayor leads and guides conversations, sets the tone for how leadership is exercised, and helps build alignment around shared priorities once the council sets them. With 13 years on council, he said he brings established relationships, institutional knowledge, and a clear understanding of how to move priorities forward on day one, including in emergency management and intergovernmental work.
Throughout the night, Wiltz worked to amplify concerns he said he has heard from residents on both sides of town. He talked about raising his children in east Pearland, remembering trains on the old rail line waking them up at night, then later moving to Shadow Creek and seeing firsthand how higher property taxes and fees hit families across 288. He argued that Pearland needs a mayor who will treat those lived experiences as central to budgeting, service delivery, and long term planning.
Carbone, in turn, repeatedly highlighted his availability and record of engagement. He told voters that when they reach out to him, “you get me, not a campaign hotline,” and stressed that leadership means showing up year round, not just during election season. He also noted that his work on council has earned endorsements from the Pearland Police Officers Association and Pearland Firefighters Association, which he presented as a sign of trust from those who “serve and protect our community every day.”
The closing statements produced the evening’s most heated moments. After reiterating his themes of “availability, consistency, and proven leadership,” Carbone raised an ethics concern, saying state law requires candidates to file a personal financial statement and that, as of the debate, the required report in this race had not been filed by his opponent. He pointed to potential civil and criminal penalties and mentioned prior ethics violations involving Wiltz in past campaigns, while saying voters would not see attack mailers or social media blasts from him about the issue.
Wiltz responded by returning to his core message and the broader values he believes should guide local politics. Framing the moment within the Easter season, he asked residents to consider whether their community reflects the best of their faith and values when it comes to impact, accountability and inclusion. He told the audience he did not feel the need to “defend any type of accusations like that,” and urged voters to focus on whether their leaders are including everyone in the city’s decision making processes.
Both candidates closed by asking for residents’ support and participation in the upcoming election. Carbone argued for consistency noting that Pearland is fundamentally strong but needs a steady hand to keep it moving forward, and Wiltz countered that the city needs a mayor willing to confront hard questions about taxes, access and equity between neighborhoods.
Early voting begins later this month, giving voters time to weigh not just which candidate they prefer, but which vision of the city’s future they find more appealing.
Watch the recording of the debate online at: https://www.facebook.com/PearlandChamber/videos/1826592184677065
Learn more about the candidates at: https://www.pearlandstories.com/pearland-mayoral-race
Additional information on upcoming elections:
https://www.brazoriacountyclerktx.gov/departments/elections
Find your sample ballot at: https://www.brazoriacountyclerktx.gov/departments/elections/sample-ballots/-folder-1375#docfold_14_2412_179_1375