By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
As the two candidates in Laguna Vista’s mayoral race connect with voters following a recent all-candidate forum in which not all candidates chose to participate, questions have also emerged about the use of campaign text messaging.
Some residents in the South Padre Island Golf Club community say they received campaign text messages from Mayor Michael “Mike” Carter on the evening of April 19, 2026, the night before early voting began in the town’s mayoral election. The messages appear to lack a political advertising disclosure typically required under Texas law for political advertising.
The texts were sent from the number (956) 709-0619 at 7:16 p.m., the evening before early voting opened on April 20. The message identified the sender as the mayor of Laguna Vista, promoted his record in office, encouraged support for his re-election campaign, and listed early voting dates of April 20 through 28 and Election Day on May 2. The message concluded with a “Re-Elect Michael ‘Mike’ Carter” campaign graphic featuring his photograph and the tagline “Leading with heart. Serving with purpose.”
Texas Election Code Section 255.003 requires political advertising to include a disclosure identifying who paid for it. No such disclosure appears in the text message reviewed by the Port Isabel–South Padre Press, raising potential compliance questions under state law.
Multiple residents who reported receiving the message said they did not sign up for campaign text communications. “I never gave anyone my number for political texts,” said one golf community resident who asked not to be identified, citing concerns about retaliation. “I don’t know how he got it.”
Questions were also raised about how recipient phone numbers were obtained. Carter serves as Treasurer of South Padre Island Golf Club Homeowners Management Co. LLC, a role that may involve access to HOA member contact information, depending on administrative responsibilities.
Residents who received the texts and are HOA members said the overlap prompted concerns.
In response to questions from the PRESS, Carter said his campaign used “a licensed third-party platform with commercially available voter data,” calling it “a standard practice in political campaigns.” He added that “no HOA, private, or non-public records were used.”
Carter also stated that the outreach “was part of a broader effort to encourage voter participation” and said the campaign “complied with all applicable laws.” He added, “I remain committed to transparency with the people of Laguna Vista.”
Carter did not directly address questions about whether the messages were sent manually or through an automated system, how recipients could opt out, or how many residents received the texts.
Early voting in the Laguna Vista mayoral election runs through April 28. Carter faces challenger Darla Jones on May 2.