Big shifts in Marble Falls leadership
Marble Falls city councilors Dave Rhodes (left), Richard Westerman, and Mark Mayfield were sworn in during the May 13 council meeting. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham.
The Marble Falls City Council saw several leadership changes following a Wednesday, May 13, special meeting, including new members, a resignation, and a mayor pro tem appointment.
New councilors Dave Rhodes and Mark Mayfield, along with incumbent Richard Westerman, were sworn in during the meeting. Councilor Craig Magerkurth was reappointed mayor pro tem, a position that fills in for mayoral duties when needed.
Rhodes defeated incumbent councilor Lauren Haltom for Place 3.
Mayfield was elected to Place 1, defeating opponent Rhonda Brown.
Westerman was reelected unopposed for Place 5.
Mayfield, Rhodes, and Westerman have all consistently served the city in various capacities and held council positions for the last several years.
Resignation
Following the meeting, Karlee Hubble announced on Thursday, May 14, that she was resigning from her Place 4 seat, which was not up for reelection this cycle, creating a vacancy on the council. She had served since 2023 and was in the midst of her second term in office.
The council is expected to vote on an appointment to fill the vacant seat in June.
“At this point in my life, my growing family and my full-time career need my full attention,” Hubble said in her resignation announcement. “While this decision was not easy, I know it is the right one for me and my family.”
New, old leaders
Rhodes, Mayfield, and Westerman have all had stints on Marble Falls City Council stretching back to the 1990s.
Most recently, Rhodes served two terms as councilor and one as mayor before terming out in 2025. While away from the council, he has served on the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.
“I feel I have a calling for this,” Rhodes told DailyTrib. “I can’t say I don’t enjoy (serving on the council), because I do. To me it is an investment in the future of the city.”
Mayfield spent decades running the Texas Housing Foundation before retiring in 2024. Recently, he too has served as a director for the Marble Falls EDC.
“It’s great (being back on the council), I think I’m going to be able to contribute a lot more at this stage of my life now that I’m retired,” Mayfield told DailyTrib.
Westerman has served on the city council on and off since 1991. He helped establish the city’s Industrial Development Corporation, which eventually evolved into the Marble Falls EDC. Most recently, he was elected to his Place 5 council seat in 2024, following up a reelection run for mayor that he lost to Rhodes in 2023.
“I’m absolutely beside myself that the citizens of Marble Falls trust me to represent them,” Westerman told DailyTrib. “We try to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and make sure that everything we do serves the city.”
All three men shared that the completion of the city’s One Water Treatment Plant was a top priority for them, along with effectively managing growth and development.
“This (water treatment) project is probably one of the most important in the next 50 years for Marble Falls,” Westerman said.
Parting words
Haltom ran on a platform emphasizing parental and family representation on the council. She served two terms and lost her bid for a third against Rhodes.
“Families are such a huge part of what makes Marble Falls special, and having leaders who understand the day-to-day realities of raising kids, balancing careers, and investing in the community brings valuable perspective to local government,” Haltom told DailyTrib. “The gents on council now have all led before. Sad to lose a powerful young representative and voice with Karlee leaving as well.”
She also encouraged continued civic involvement among younger residents.
“More than anything, I hope people, especially in my generation, continue stepping up to be involved in our community in whatever capacity they can. Marble Falls is fortunate to have so many people who care deeply about this town, and that’s what will continue to make it thrive,” Haltom said.