The Princeton City Council race highlights political tensions in Collin County

The presidential race is fraught with mudslides and division — and it's spilling over into a city council race in Princeton, once a small Collin County town in the midst of a population boom.

The threat of political violence worries all of Texas. Dallas police officers recently spent 2,300 hours on overtime to prepare for possible post-election unrest. A man wearing a Trump hat was arrested in Bexar County last week for assaulting an election worker. And David Kleiber recently resigned from his Princeton City Council seat after making a controversial Facebook comment about shooting liberals.

Kleiber did not respond to KERA's request for comment by phone or email before this article was published. He apologized for his comments in a public Facebook group, The Original Princeton TX Cares.

“I realize that the content of the message was inappropriate, ill-conceived and did not reflect the values ​​and respect I hold for our community,” he wrote.

Terrance Johnson, who is running to unseat Kleiber, said his comment politicized the race.

“It's supposed to be nonpartisan, but he's joking about shooting liberals,” Johnson said. “He is also a councilor for those people, so why would he even joke about that?”

The Collin County Republican Party has withdrawn its endorsement of Kleiber over his Facebook comment. He is still on the ballot for re-election.

Collin County GOP Party Chairman Shelby Williams said he is concerned about the country's political discourse leading to violence — something Williams said he wants to avoid.

“As a free society, we must always be prepared to do that as a last resort,” he said. “We must exhaust all options before and unless it comes to that.”

Princeton is located in Collin County, known for being home to conservatives like Attorney General Ken Paxton. But the county is diversifying as it grows, and Democrats say diversity is to their advantage. Rep. Mihaela Plesa was the first Democrat elected to the state House from the region when she won in 2022.

Texas House District 89 includes part of Princeton. Rep. Candy Noble, a Republican, has held the seat for four terms. Darrel Evans, who is running against Noble, said some people in the district are afraid to admit they are Democrats.

“They're afraid to put up signs,” Evans said. “My signs were destroyed and removed.”

Johnson, who is running as an independent, said population growth in Princeton has led to a change in political dynamics. According to sources, Princeton is the third fastest growing city in the country the US census.

“Many older residents have noticed a shift,” he says.

Johnson previously said it was impossible for candidates who were not conservative to win in Princeton. But as the population grows, moderates, independents and even Democrats are calling Princeton home.

Williams said the Collin County GOP needs to take a more active role in local elections. He currently serves as a Plano city councilman. And he said the way to get people involved in the Republican Party is to lead with respect and civility.

“If you approach a discussion or even a question with a hostile attitude from the start, you don't really hear what anyone else is saying,” Williams said.

Do you have a tip? Email Caroline Love at clove@kera.org.

Caroline Love is one Report for America corps member for KERA News.

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