GOP candidates gather in Tyler

TYLER — A panel of GOP candidates took place in Tyler, featuring Stuart Hene, John Nix and James Wynne, all of whom are competing for the position of mayor of the City of Tyler.

The current mayor, Don Warren, was first elected in 2020. His six-year term will conclude in 2026, following his third term. Voters in Tyler will have the opportunity to elect Warren’s successor in May 2026. Hene currently serves as the councilman for District 1 in central Tyler. He attended Rice Elementary, Hubbard Middle School, and Tyler Legacy High School (prior to its renaming). Hene earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Baylor University and obtained his law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

John Nix describes his journey to Tyler as a young carpenter armed only with tools and an old used car. Over the years, Tyler has become a place that he and his family proudly call home. As a small business owner, Nix says he understands the importance of having a well-functioning city. Nix served as Tyler City Councilman for District 6 from 2013 to 2019. Nix currently works as the president of Nix Construction, Inc. and Nix Builders and as the owner of Nix Properties, LLC.

As a fourth-generation Tylerite, James Wynne has served as the City Councilman for District 4 for three consecutive terms. Wynne has worked for Tyler for more than thirty years in commercial and residential property management and air conditioning service industry, which he recently sold.

Candidate Dr. Shirley J. McKellar wasn’t at Thursday’s panel because she’s running for mayor of Tyler as a Democrat. McKellar was elected to Tyler City Council in 2019 to serve as councilwoman for District 3. She served in the U.S. Army as a nurse in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.