League City Council Member Tom Crews filed to run for mayor on Aug. 4, becoming the first named challenger to incumbent Mayor Nick Long in the Nov. 3 general election.

League City Mayoral Race


Crews, a CPA and 11-year League City resident, submitted his ballot application to the City Secretary's Office and paid the $100 filing fee by check. He will appear on the ballot as "Tom Crews."

The filing sets up a contested mayoral race.

Long, a consultant who has lived in League City for more than 33 years, filed his own application on July 20 and announced his re-election bid on social media the same day. As of July 29, six candidates had filed for five city seats, but the mayor's race had no challenger, as we previously reported.

Crews currently holds Council Position 3, with a term running through November 2028. Under the city's candidate eligibility rules, a council member whose unexpired term exceeds one year who files for another elected office triggers an automatic resignation from the seat held. Crews has more than two years remaining. The Herald has not yet confirmed with the City Secretary's Office whether the provision has been formally applied to his filing.

Crews has been a vocal dissenter on the current council. At the June 10 meeting, he was the lone voice opposing the "Healthy Spaces Initiative" anti-camping ordinance, arguing it unfairly targeted homeless residents and created problems for churches offering shelter. The measure passed over his objections.

"After the last election there's been an agreement among City Council that any initiative that I bring will not be backed and the causes that I support could be in danger," Crews said at that June 10 meeting, as reported by Houston Public Media.

Crews has not issued a public statement about his reasons for seeking the mayor's office. Long's campaign has not publicly responded to the new challenger.

The candidate filing window closes Monday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. Applications can be filed in person at the City Secretary's Office at City Hall, 300 West Walker St., by mail, by email at [email protected], or by fax at 281-554-1020. Residents can call 281-554-1030 for filing information. A runoff, if needed, is scheduled for Dec. 12.