The Inner Harbor desalination project is not on this year's ballot, but Corpus Christi voters will still determine its fate through who they elect to City Council.Inner Harbor desalination has been voted down twice in the last 1 3 months by Corpus Christi City Council. But after the most recent vote, City Manager Peter Zanoni made clear the project is not dead."Tonight's vote wasn't a no on the project. There was a motion to approve it and it was denied," Zanoni said on September 2. Who Corpus Christi voters elect to city council could decide fate of Inner Harbor desalination projectCorpus Christi serves the water needs of the region, which includes 500,000 people across multiple counties and more than a dozen large-volume industrial water users. Those demands have created a water shortage and a need for a long-term sustainable source of water.Desalination has become a popular option because of the city's proximity to the Gulf. The process takes water from the ocean, filters it and turns it into drinkable water.Inner Harbor Desalination holds permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which has made it a frequently cited potential solution. But both times it has come to a vote, five of the nine council members have pushed back on the project.Opponents have cited environmental concerns, including discharge from the desalination process being pumped back into the bay and posing a threat to marine life. Financial concerns have also been raised the project would cost at least $978 million for 30 million gallons of water a day.With Inner Harbor desalination still alive, candidates are centering their campaigns around the project. Political action committees, known as PACs, are forming on both sides. The Coastal Bend Coalition has endorsed nine candidates who support Inner Harbor, while Texas Campaign for the Environment is endorsing candidates who oppose the project.Corpus Christi voters can each vote for a district seat, three at-large seats and the mayor five city council members in total. That majority is what will either approve or deny Inner Harbor desalination.I researched all 43 candidates currently running for office. Of those, 19 are in favor of Inner Harbor desalination and 24 are against it.The list is in order of how candidates will appear on the ballot.City Council candidates: Who is for/against Inner Harbor Desalination?MAYORAL CANDIDATES:Kaylynn Paxson Against Inner HarborDavid Ainsworth Sr. Pro Inner HarborPaulette Guajardo (incumbent) Pro Inner HarborGil Hernandez Against Inner HarborChelise Hyatt Pro Inner HarborJohn Calkusic Against Inner HarborDave Heasley Against Inner HarborAT-LARGE CANDIDATES:Anthem Powers Against Inner HarborMerida Nardone Mendoza Pro Inner HarborScott F. Corliss Pro Inner HarborSammy Gonzales Against Inner HarborZoraida Basaldu Pro Inner HarborMichael Miller Against Inner HarborJoshua Fraedrick Against Inner HarborWillie Morales Jr. Pro Inner HarborMark Scott (incumbent) Pro Inner HarborNancy Vera Against Inner HarborJulian Jacob Hernandez Against Inner HarborCarolyn Vaughn (incumbent) Against Inner HarborRichard Shelton Pro Inner HarborDan McQueen Against Inner HarborAlex Johnston Against Inner HarborDISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES:John Garcia Pro Inner HarborTracy McCall Pro Inner HarborBilly Lerma Against Inner HarborJohn M. Cudd Against Inner HarborVidal Cowboy Conde Against Inner HarborDISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES:Selena Guerra Against Inner HarborJen Allende Pro Inner HarborIsabel Araiza Against Inner HarborLaura Flores Commons Pro Inner HarborDISTRICT 3 CANDIDATES:Jessica Villarreal Against Inner HarborRobert Rocha Pro Inner HarborEric Cantu (incumbent) Against Inner HarborDISTRICT 4 CANDIDATES:Joshua Anderson Pro Inner HarborKristina Nelson Against Inner HarborStacie Garrecht Against Inner HarborDan Herrington Pro Inner HarborDISTRICT 5 CANDIDATES:Joseph Borkouski Pro Inner HarborKusumakar Sooda Against Inner HarborDavid Pena Pro Inner HarborJohn Hanzalik Pro Inner HarborMerida Gonzalez Forrest Against Inner HarborWhen does voting begin?Early voting begins October 19. The general election is on November 3. ...read more read less