Marshall Councilwoman Reba Godfrey Seeks Another Term Despite Opponent’s Disqualification
Marshall, TX — District 5 Councilwoman Reba Godfrey is campaigning for re-election to continue her hands-on service to the city, even as her opponent, Candance Pierce, has been disqualified from office due to a Class B misdemeanor conviction. Regardless of the disqualification, Godfrey urges voters to support her to keep the seat filled and the city’s progress moving forward.
“If Pierce were to win, the seat would become vacant,” said Godfrey, who has represented District 5 since 2022. A retired educator and executive pastor at New Vision Missionary Baptist Church, Godfrey has lived in Marshall for 72 years and sees her council position not as politics but as a ministry.
Godfrey’s tenure has centered on practical improvements and staff-centered policies that reflect her commitment to community and city workers alike. Most notably, she championed a 4% across-the-board pay raise for city employees in the 2025 fiscal year budget and pushed for additional compensation tied to certification training to support front-line workers amid rising inflation and higher property taxes.
Key Infrastructure Upgrades and City Improvements Led by Godfrey
Godfrey was instrumental in securing the first LED streetlight installations in District 5, an initiative that eventually expanded citywide after other council members sought her guidance. She also has advocated for important upgrades to local amenities, including improvements at Smith Park, where playground equipment she remembers from childhood is being renovated.
Her focus extends to public safety and city cleanliness, spearheading clean-up projects at notorious illegal dumping sites on Ward, Norwood, Olive, and Scotts Quarters streets. These persistent efforts led to reinstating the right-of-way crew dedicated to reducing illegal dumping, though isolated incidents like a recent couch dumping on Scotts Quarters remain challenges.
Water System Crisis Foreseen and Now a Top Priority
Long before a recent water main break left parts of the city without running water for several days, Godfrey was warning of the urgent need to upgrade the aging water infrastructure. During a 2024 tour of the wastewater treatment plant, she witnessed firsthand the system’s deterioration and realized critical upgrades were needed. Some equipment dated back to the late 1940s, predating Godfrey herself.
Following equipment malfunctions at the raw water treatment plant in September 2024, Godfrey, alongside Assistant Public Works Director Cory Owen, assessed widespread water leaks, swiftly pushing for council attention on vital repairs and funding. The city is reportedly pursuing nearly $22 million in aid from the Texas Water Development Board to handle these upgrades.
Unity and Forward Momentum Define Godfrey’s Council Role
Godfrey credits spiritual unity and a cooperative city council atmosphere for advancing city initiatives. “God has unified us, changed the spiritual atmosphere of the city… At City Hall, we hug. There is love, there is unity,” she explained, emphasizing the human element behind local governance.
Now campaigning for another term, Godfrey insists her role is to serve everyone in Marshall—beyond just District 5—and to keep pushing for progress on personnel, infrastructure, and community well-being. With her opponent legally unable to serve, constituents face a clear choice to maintain experienced leadership during critical upgrades and city-wide improvements.
The Marshall council election will soon determine whether Godfrey’s ministry of public service will continue uninterrupted or if further action will be needed to fill the seat in the event of a Pierce victory.
