Mayor of Frisco, TX: Powers, Term Limits, and Qualifications

The mayor of Frisco, TX is Jeff Cheney, who has held the office since May 2017 and is now serving out his final term under the city’s three-term limit.¹ Under Frisco’s council-manager charter, the job carries less day-to-day authority than many residents assume: the mayor presides over City Council meetings and represents the city publicly, but has no veto, no routine vote on council business, and no administrative control over city departments.

The 2026 Succession

Cheney, a licensed real estate broker and native Texan, was first elected in May 2017 and reelected in November 2023.¹ The charter caps the mayor at three consecutive three-year terms, and he has reached that ceiling.²

Four candidates filed for the May 2, 2026, general election: John Keating, Shona Sowell, Rod Vilhauer, and Mark Hill.³ No one took an outright majority, so the City Council canvassed the results on May 12 and set a runoff for June 13, 2026.⁴ Cheney stays in office until his successor is sworn in.

What the Mayor Can and Cannot Do

Frisco adopted its Home Rule Charter in 1987 and runs on a council-manager model.⁵ The council sets policy; a professional city manager runs the departments and the budget. The council has seven members total: the mayor plus six councilmembers, all elected at-large.²

Presiding and Speaking for the Council

The mayor’s main duty is chairing City Council meetings and taking part in discussion on every item.⁶ The mayor also serves as the council’s official spokesperson.⁵

Voting and Veto

The mayor does not vote on ordinary council business. The charter allows a mayoral vote only to break a tie, or when state law, a city ordinance, or the charter itself requires a specific percentage of the full council.⁶ There is no veto. An ordinance passed by the six councilmembers stands regardless of the mayor’s position.

Ceremonial and Administrative Scope

The charter names the mayor as head of city government for ceremonial purposes.⁶ That covers ribbon cuttings, regional representation, and proclamations. The charter is explicit that the mayor has no regular administrative duties, which means questions about city services, permits, or code enforcement belong with the city manager’s office rather than the mayor’s.

Board and Commission Appointments

Frisco’s advisory boards and commissions, covering areas like planning, parks, and libraries, are appointed by the City Council as a body, not by the mayor acting alone.⁷ The 2026 appointments are scheduled for the second council meeting on September 15.

Term Limits

No one may serve more than three consecutive elected terms as mayor. Terms run three years, so the practical ceiling is nine consecutive years.⁸ Anyone who previously served on the council faces a combined cap of six consecutive elected terms across both offices.

Partial terms count differently depending on how they end. A mayor who leaves early still counts that unfinished term as a full term for themselves. A replacement elected or appointed to finish a vacated term only has it counted against their own limit if at least 50 percent of the term remained when they took over.⁸

Qualifications To Run

Article V of the charter sets the same baseline for the mayor and the councilmembers:⁹

At least 18 years old on election day.
A qualified voter.
Resident of Frisco, or of recently annexed territory, for at least one year before the filing date.
Not delinquent on any taxes or other amounts owed to the city, either when filing or while in office.
Cannot file for more than one city office in the same election.

City employees who file for elected office must leave their city position when they file.¹⁰

If the Seat Goes Vacant

A mid-term vacancy in the mayor’s office must be filled by special election within 120 days.¹¹ Councilmember vacancies can be filled by council appointment, but a mayoral vacancy goes to the voters. Whoever wins the special election serves only the remainder of the vacated term.

One trigger worth knowing: if the sitting mayor files to run for any other elected public office, the mayoral seat is treated as immediately vacant.¹⁰

Contacting the Mayor’s Office

The mayor’s office sits inside the George A. Purefoy Municipal Center at 6101 Frisco Square Boulevard.¹² The city website hosts an email portal for policy questions and comments.

To request the mayor’s attendance at an event, submit an appearance request through the city website at least four to six weeks ahead, and no more than three months in advance.¹³ The request has to show a specific connection to Frisco, and the mayor and councilmembers generally do not attend events outside city limits.¹⁴

1
Frisco, TX – Official Website. Mayor Jeff Cheney
2
eCode360. City of Frisco Home Rule Charter – Article III The City Council
3
Frisco, TX – Official Website. May 2, 2026 General Election
4
Frisco, TX – Official Website. June 13, 2026 Special Runoff Election
5
City of Frisco, TX. Home Rule
6
eCode360. City of Frisco Home Rule Charter – Article III The City Council – Section 3.05
7
Frisco, TX – Official Website. Boards and Commissions
8
eCode360. City of Frisco Home Rule Charter – Article III The City Council – Section 3.02
9
eCode360. City of Frisco Home Rule Charter – Article V Nominations and Elections
10
Frisco, TX – Official Website. Elections
11
eCode360. City of Frisco Home Rule Charter – Article III The City Council – Section 3.06
12
Frisco, TX – Official Website. City Offices
13
City of Frisco. Appearance Requests
14
City of Frisco, Texas. Mayor/Council Member Appearance Request