Burnet City Council candidate profiles

Burnet City Council has three full-term seats up for grabs in the upcoming May 2 election, and five applicants have applied for the positions heading into the early voting period between April 20-28. Only the top three vote-getters will take office after the ballots are counted.

There are four seats total up for election, with three seats at their full two-year terms, and one with a partial term that expires on May 1, 2027. The unexpired term is to fill the spot left vacant by former councilor Tres Clinton, who stepped down in December 2025.

Five candidates filed to run for the three, full, two-year terms. They include Lee Carney, Anthony Francisco, Sky Hullum, Danny Lester, and incumbent Cindia Talamantez.

Candidate Crista Bromley filed to run for the partial term and will take office after the election, as she is running unopposed.

• For voting locations, visit here

• For a sample ballot, visit here

Read on to get to know the candidates and where they stand on key issues.

Editor’s note: Candidates were given a strict word count for their responses and their answers were cut short if they exceeded that limit.

Can you provide a brief personal and professional background?

Lee Carney:

First and foremost, I am a husband and father of two sons. My wife, Lauren, and I are raising our family here in Burnet, where we live in the Oak Vista neighborhood. Outside of work and service, I’m an avid mountain biker who enjoys spending time outdoors with my family.

Professionally, I bring over 20 years of experience in a world-class customer service organization, where I’ve built my career on solving problems, listening to people, and delivering results. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with a wide range of individuals and teams, learning the importance of clear communication, accountability, and follow-through.

That experience has shaped my approach to leadership—practical, responsive, and focused on serving others. I believe good leadership starts with listening, understanding the needs of the people you serve, and making thoughtful, well-informed decisions.

Anthony Francisco:

In February 2014, I transitioned from corporate employment to become a self-employed contractor and business owner, specializing as a development broker, loan broker, and insurance producer. These roles sharpened my adaptability and leadership skills. Currently, I serve as the Broker Owner of our family firm, Thess Mortgage. My professional journey has instilled a deep sense of accountability, ensuring I lead with integrity and experience to serve the best interests of my community.

Sky Hullum:

I graduated from Burnet High School in 2007, attended Tarleton University, then moved to Cedar Hill in 2014 where I was the quality control manager for one of the largest gas detection equipment companies in the United States. In 2019 I started working with Westrock Construction as the project manager.

Danny Lester:

I have owned and operated several businesses in Burnet. I currently operate Warehouse BBQ in Burnet. I worked for the City of Burnet in several different capacities until I retired. I served 3 terms on the city council.

Cindia Talamantez:

I’m Cindia Talamantez, I was born and raised in Burnet Texas and started a successful business in Burnet 42 years ago and its still going strong. So my heart and soul are definitely all about the welfare and growth in Burnet!!

Can you share how long you have lived in Burnet or the Highland Lakes area and the extent of your community involvement?

Lee Carney:

We moved from Liberty Hill to Burnet a few years ago because we wanted to raise our boys in a small, tight-knit, community where family values and quality of life still matter. Burnet couldn’t have hit the mark any better!

Shortly after moving to Burnet, I got involved in the community by joining the local Rotary Club. I now serve on the Board, working alongside other community leaders to support local needs here in Burnet. I also serve as Vice-Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, where I’ve worked on issues related to responsible growth and development. These roles have given me a deeper understanding of our community and the importance of thoughtful, community-focused leadership.

Outside of that, my wife and I stay involved by coaching youth sports and participating in school activities with our two boys, Wyatt and Clay.

Anthony Francisco:

My family moved to Burnet, TX, in 1994. I am a 1999 Burnet High School graduate and a 2004 St. Edward’s University alumnus (B.S. in Biology). After gaining experience in Austin, I returned to my true home. Having lived in the Oaks neighborhood, Heritage Valley subdivision, and now south of the Historic Burnet Square, I am deeply invested in our local neighborhoods. I am ready to be your dedicated voice on the City Council.

Sky Hullum:

I have called Burnet my home since 1988. My father and I have worked at many benefit auctions for various organizations throughout the years. Since moving back to Burnet, I have also gotten involved with coaching in the Burnet Little League organization.

Danny Lester:

I have lived in Burnet County all my life. I have lived in the city of Burnet 42 years. I was an original member of the Burnet Economic Development Association. I have been involved in many community events.

Can you share what your top three priorities would be if elected as a Burnet city councilor?

Lee Carney:

If elected, my top priorities would focus on maintaining the quality of life that makes Burnet such a great place to live while preparing responsibly for the future.

First, I would focus on affordability and supporting families. As a father, I understand the importance of being able to afford to live, work, and raise a family in the community you call home. As Burnet grows, we must be mindful of rising costs and work to ensure housing, utility costs, and taxes remain reasonable for our residents.

Second, I would prioritize smart, responsible growth. Burnet is growing, and it’s important that we manage that growth in a way that protects our community’s character while supporting economic development. That means thoughtful planning, infrastructure readiness, and ensuring development aligns with the needs of our residents.

Third, I would emphasize transparent and approachable local government. Residents deserve leadership that listens, communicates clearly, and is accessible. I believe in being accountable to the people I serve and making decisions that reflect the priorities of our community.

Together, these priorities are about building on what’s already working in Burnet while making thoughtful decisions that position us well for the years ahead.

Anthony Francisco:

My priorities focus on sustainable growth, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility:

• Charter Review: Evaluate the current City Charter to implement smart growth policies that protect Burnet’s historic quaintness from rapid development.
• Citizen Accessibility: Maintain an open-door policy to ensure I am available and responsive to the concerns of all residents.
• Fiscal Stewardship: Rigorously oversee the municipal budget to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely and transparently.

Sky Hullum:

Burnet is projected to grow steadily at a rate of 1.4% to 1.5% yearly. We must be ready for the many changes to our infrastructure with attention to water availability, roads, and businesses that would help alleviate the tax burden we all share. There are many vacant buildings within the city limits that are available. I would like to see them used for purposes that would benefit all of Burnet. The traffic in Burnet has increased, and it has created roads in much need of repair. TxDOT maintains 29 and 281 but streets are always in need of repairs due to steady growth of new residents. Water resource management is an issue that will have a direct effect on every citizen. The drought we have experienced in the past few years has led to a concern of our water resources, and with the increase of residents and the possibility of a rock quarry, water will become a major issue for the residents. A plan needs to be in place to conserve and protect our most valuable resources.

Danny Lester:

Top three priorities would be:

• Lower taxes
• Improve affordable housing
• Vote and do what’s best for citizens not special interest

Cindia Talamantez:

My top priorities are Water, First Responders and traffic.

What do you believe is the current, greatest challenge facing the city of Burnet? How would you address it?

Lee Carney:

In my opinion, the greatest challenge facing Burnet today is managing growth while maintaining the character and quality of life that make our community so special.

Growth brings opportunity, but it also places real pressure on infrastructure, city resources, and your tax dollar. If we don’t stay ahead of it, growth can outpace our ability to support it.

To address this, we need to be proactive—not reactive. That means making sure infrastructure keeps pace with development, planning for future needs, and ensuring growth aligns with the expectations of our residents. My experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission has shown me how important it is to take a balanced, thoughtful approach.

If we manage it well, growth can strengthen our community while preserving what makes Burnet a great place to call home.

Anthony Francisco:

The greatest challenge facing Burnet is low voter turnout. Low participation limits civic awareness regarding local propositions and candidates. To address this, I will launch proactive outreach initiatives to educate residents on the importance of local elections. By fostering curiosity and open dialogue, we can increase engagement, ensure our government remains representative, and get citizens talking about the future of our city.

Sky Hullum:

I feel our greatest challenge is helping alleviate the tax burden of citizens of the City of Burnet. This could be helped with bringing quality businesses to Burnet that would benefit not only the citizens but also our largest business, Burnet CISD. Credible business would benefit graduates that, like myself, would like to stay in Burnet and raise their family in the same small town feel that I grew up with.

Danny Lester:

The current challenges is to get the city’s budget back under control. When I was on council before we had a $1 spent must have $1.25 income not sure if it has been voted out. It stopped over budgeting items. Less tax dollars spent.

Cindia Talamantez:

We need to be very careful with growth. Water supply is crucial and we need to be very aware of wells and ground water supply.

What is your perception of the growth happening in the city? How do you plan on managing it?

Lee Carney:

As I previously stated, managing growth in Burnet is a top priority. As one of the crown jewels of the Hill Country, our community continues to attract families and businesses—and for good reason. Burnet has a lot to offer, and that growth reflects the strength and appeal of our city. The question is not whether we grow, but how we grow.

I support a balanced approach that encourages economic development while preserving the character of our community. That means planning ahead for infrastructure and ensuring new development aligns with the needs and values of our residents.

I oppose projects that negatively impact our quality of life in and around Burnet, including the rock crusher, 765 KV transmission line, or any future plans for massive power and water consumers like data centers. These types of projects can place strain on our infrastructure and resources while offering little or no long-term benefit…

Anthony Francisco:

Growth in Burnet is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of our identity. My perception is that while new families bring energy and economic opportunity, we must be proactive rather than reactive.

To manage this, my primary focus will be reviewing and proofing the City Charter. The Charter is our constitutional roadmap; by strengthening it, we ensure that as the city expands, it does so under the standards that preserve Burnet’s unique “quaintness.” We must ensure that newcomers understand and respect how our city chooses to be governed and operated. By sticking to a well-defined Charter, we can welcome growth while protecting the small-town atmosphere and heritage that make our community home.

Sky Hullum:

The population of Burnet has doubled since I was born. The growth of a town is inevitable but how we address and work on the issues facing our small town will have an impact on what it will look like in the next decade. I would like to see us continue to have the small town feel but with more opportunities to help the citizens who want to stay and raise their family.

Danny Lester:

The growth in the city is just natural attrition. People in Austin area are moving this way plus all the out of state people moving in. It’s something that is hard to control unless you put a building moratorium in your city. We have had some good business come to our city with the growth.

Cindia Talamantez:

There are always challenges for any City with growth, but top priority will always be Water, Law Enforcement and Fire EMS and traffic!!!!

We need strong leaders that care about this City and all our citizens.

caden@thepicayune.com