2026 Texas General Election

― MY BACKGROUND

I've lived in Sunset Valley for over 4 years and in Central Texas for over 30 years. I came to Texas when I was stationed at Fort Hood. After I got out of the Army, I moved to Austin to go to UT while serving in the National Guard at Camp Mabry.

Charles Young for Sunset Valley City Council

― MY BACKGROUND

I've lived in Sunset Valley for over 4 years and in Central Texas for over 30 years. I came to Texas when I was stationed at Fort Hood. After I got out of the Army, I moved to Austin to go to UT while serving in the National Guard at Camp Mabry. I'm a software architect with over 30 years of experience and now teach at the UT School of Information while working at a non-profit. I love to garden in our backyard and walk the paths and trails in our open spaces with my wife Melissa, our cameras, and our dog Chula.

Charles Young came to Texas while stationed at Fort Hood and later moved to Austin. He attended the University of Texas and is married to Melissa.

President of Friends of Austin Animal Center, a non-profit that supports the Austin Animal Center (AAC). I helped plan, build, and manage new programs, raise funds, and coordinate with AAC, the City of Austin, and other animal welfare non-profits in a successful community effort to make Austin the first no-kill animal shelter in the nation.

Charles works as a software architect, teaches at the University of Texas School of Information, and works at a nonprofit. He is president of Friends of Austin Animal Center, a nonprofit that supports the Austin Animal Center.

Charles works as a software architect, teaches at the University of Texas School of Information, and also works at a nonprofit. He is president of Friends of Austin Animal Center, a nonprofit that supports the Austin Animal Center.

Government Officials:
Mayor: Marc Bruner
City Council Member: Karen Medicus
City Council Member: Robert Johnson
City Council Member: Charles Young
City Council Member: Roy Green
City Council Member: Dawn Dickson
City Administrator: Matt Lingafelter

City of Sunset Valley - TML City Officials Directory

Charles currently serves as a City Council Member in Sunset Valley.

City of Sunset Valley - TML Directory - Texas Municipal League

Long-Term Planning
We Must Renew Our Commitment to Long-Term Planning and Management

Ensure sufficient planning and funding for roads, utilities, facilities, and equipment for our future.

Upgrade and enhance our systems and processes to enhance city operations.

Continue to be able to provide services that the community expects.

Ensure there is no need for a city property tax.

Engage with merchants and interface with our business community to help them continue to be successful.

Plans to ensure the city does not need to levy a property tax.

Plans to engage with merchants and the business community to support their success.

- Plans to ensure the city does not need to levy a property tax.
- Plans to engage with merchants and the business community to support their success.

Economy

Parks and Open Spaces
Finish design and begin implementation of the Parks and Open Space Master Plan

78% of survey respondents use our parks and open spaces at least 2-3 times a week.

Civic Engagement and Transparency
Citizen Involvement

Respect and honor the voices of our citizens.

Encourage greater participation in committees and events.

Provide clear and transparent information to the community.

Plans to finish designing and begin implementing the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.

Plans to encourage greater participation in city committees and events.

Plans to provide clear and transparent information to the community.

- Plans to finish designing and begin implementing the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
- Plans to encourage greater participation in city committees and events.
- Plans to provide clear and transparent information to the community.

Public Services

As of September 29, 2026, Charles Young’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Long-Term Planning
We Must Renew Our Commitment to Long-Term Planning and Management

Ensure sufficient planning and funding for roads, utilities, facilities, and equipment for our future.

Upgrade and enhance our systems and processes to enhance city operations.

Continue to be able to provide services that the community expects.

Ensure there is no need for a city property tax.

Plans to ensure planning and funding for future roads, utilities, facilities, and equipment.

- Plans to ensure planning and funding for future roads, utilities, facilities, and equipment.

Transportation & Infrastructure

A Vision for Sunset Valley
“Sunset Valley is a gem, a hidden oasis in Central Texas. Our commitment to the natural environment and our community values is what sets us apart. What we have is unique and special and we should work to preserve and enhance it. ”

Said Sunset Valley should preserve and enhance its natural environment.

- Said Sunset Valley should preserve and enhance its natural environment.

Energy & the Environment

Charles Young

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bloomsburg University

Experience
Vice Chair, Sunset Valley Arts Commission

Sunset Valley 2020 Election Central

Meet the Candidates...Rob Johnson
In his own words:
I have called Sunset Valley home for the past ten years and would love the opportunity to serve on our city council. As a founder of a service-based business and with over twenty years of experience in software development, my professional experience could certainly lend itself to some of the issues that our city council addresses.

Meet the Candidates...Rob Johnson
In his own words:
My family and I are regular trail users and we have a great respect for the importance of our natural spaces. I make a point to patronize our local businesses, big and small, and I have children who attend Sunset Valley Elementary. Sunset Valley is not a short-term stop for our family.

Robert Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Bloomsburg University. In a 2020 candidate profile, he said he had called Sunset Valley home for the past ten years and had children attending Sunset Valley Elementary.

Sunset Valley 2020 Election Central - OpenGov

Robert Johnson is the founder of a service-based business and has experience in software development.

Council Members Alfonso Carmona and Robert Johnson were sworn in by new Mayor Marc Bruner on a video call Nov. 17. (Courtesy Sunset Valley)Sunset Valley Mayor Rose Cardona, who has served on the dais for more than a decade, officially passed the torch to Marc Bruner during a virtual swearing-in ceremony Nov. 17.

Marc Bruner steps in as mayor of Sunset Valley as new leadership takes dais

Robert currently serves as a City Council Member in Sunset Valley. He was sworn in alongside Alfonso Carmona on Nov. 17.

Marc Bruner steps in as mayor of Sunset Valley as new leadership ...

As of September 29, 2026, Robert Johnson did not have a website or any information online.

Robert Johnson

As of September 29, 2026, Robert Johnson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Sunset Valley, Texas.

Sarah is the founder of Real Wealth Planning, a financial planning firm. She previously worked as a regional director at Dimensional Fund Advisors and spent nine years working in education, including teaching sixth-grade mathematics and supporting schools with financial education.

Sarah is running for Sunset Valley City Council in 2026; it is her first run for office.

As of September 29, 2026, Sarah Ponder’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Sarah Ponder

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.

Sunset Valley City Council Member

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Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Sunset Valley City Council Member

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Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Candidates (3)
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