Frisco is poised for a new political era as term-limited Mayor Jeff Cheney steps down next year after nine years of serving the city. So far, three candidates — Mark Hill, John Keating and Shona Sowell — have announced their campaigns for the May 2026 election.
The mayoral race will also have more immediate impacts on local government in Frisco. When Keating, incumbent Place 1 council member, announced his campaign last month, he said he would step down from his position under Texas’ resign-to-run laws.
Earlier this month, the council called a special election for his Place 1 seat on Jan. 31. Keating will continue to represent Place 1 until the election next year. Candidates have until Dec. 1 to file paperwork.
Former Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland and Ann Anderson, a financial services professional, have already filed to run for Place 1. The winner of the election will represent the city at large and will serve until May 2027, the remainder of Keating’s term on the council.
Piland, former fire chief for Frisco, said he’s running to “return the voice of government back to the people.” He said he would focus on public safety, traffic management and other issues associated with the city’s rapid growth if elected.
This is Piland’s second time running for the Place 1 seat. He previously ran in May 2024. Piland also challenged incumbent mayor Cheney in the May 2023 election.
Piland, 66, said he currently works as a public safety and emergency management consultant. He retired as fire chief in September 2022. The Dallas Morning News previously reported that he had to retire or be fired because he directed staff to alter a mayday report to make his department look better, according to public records detailing an outside investigation.
When asked about the incident, Piland said he was committed to serving Frisco, where he has lived for the last 12 years.
“That’s in the past,” Piland said. “We’re moving on, and I’m committed to being accountable to the public.”
Anderson has lived in Frisco for the last 20 years and owns an insurance agency. Anderson said she was inspired to run after serving as Gunstream Elementary PTA president and serving on the city’s Comprehensive Planning Committee.
“I wanted to stop sitting on the sidelines and step up,” Anderson said.
If elected, Anderson said she would prioritize addressing long-term issues that will impact Frisco, such as the water supply. Like Piland, she mentioned developing solutions to manage traffic and the influx of growth in Frisco. Anderson said she would work to start programs that help match companies with underemployed adults in Frisco, driven by her own experience caring for her son, who has special needs.
This is Anderson’s first foray into politics, and she hopes voters will see that as a strength.
“I want people to know that I’m just a regular person running for office,” Anderson said, “I serve on the PTA, I shop at Hobby Lobby.”
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.