Cara Bonin has announced her candidacy for the position on Katy’s city council representing Ward A, which is being vacated by councilmember Dan Smith. Smith is running for the Waller County Precinct 4 position and must resign his position under the city charter’s “resign to run” rule.

Bonin filed for the position on December 22 and released a brief statement on her “Cara 4 Katy” Facebook page. “Today I was compelled to file to run for Ward A position on the City of Katy City Council,” the post said. “This is a unique and rapidly approaching special election because Dan Smith is vacating his seat to pursue another in Waller County. I have one opponent. Early voting begins January 20 and ends January 27th. Election day is January 31.”

Bonin will face Paula Taylor, a teacher at Katy High School and nine-year board member of the Keep Katy Beautiful board, in the special election on January 31.

Bonin, whose occupation is listed as “contractor” on her filing documents, ran unsuccessfully against current council member Janet Corte for the Ward A position in 2023. Her ballot application states that she has lived in the city for almost 43 years.