Priorities

Leadership and Integrity

My principles center on good leadership focused on Community, Integrity, and Commitment. We need thoughtful, responsible, and organized leadership as we progress toward the eventual build out of Keller. We will only have one chance to get the build out right, and the results of our work will have an effect for decades to come. We need to be the Leader and a good neighbor to cities around us. The NE Tarrant region is larger than just Keller, and working together with other Cities gives us a stronger position and louder voice on regional projects that will affect all of our quality of life.

Quality of Life

This might sound simple, but it is comprehensive. Think about what it is that makes Keller great, and why our citizens are so passionate about our town. It includes many things: public safety, good schools, good parks, and good city services. It includes thoughtful development of the resources that we have. It is most important that we do this professionally, and in a manner of personal and business interaction that is responsible and civil. We need to be proud of whom we are, and who are leaders are.

Community

Serving on the City Council is analogous to being on the Board of Directors of a public company. In this case the company is the City of Keller with a $67,000,000 annual budget and the stock holders are the Citizens. My job is to work FOR the owners of our town, the Citizens, and work WITH the Community. Community is a broad term that includes all of the citizens, civic groups, businesses, and surrounding cities of Keller. I know that the best interests of all the citizens will not always benefit each of the citizens. The City of Keller needs Leaders on the council who are able to look at everything, and make good decisions for the entire community.

Communication

This is always a challenge, and it is not a solo sport. I have always learned more about something by listening to people than I have from talking to them. For me, a big part of citizen communication is listening. The city does have a responsibility to inform, and we can improve some of those tools. Upgrades to the City website and newsletters will be helpful. It is also important that we have good pipelines of communication from the community back to the city leadership.

Retail/Business Master Plan

Commercial, retail, dining, residential, these are all part of any good master plan. Another label for this is Economic Development. The role of the City is to provide fertile ground for the type of development that is best for the community. It is important to get the best advice from the best people when developing, reviewing, and executing any plan. Input from our citizens is a critical part of the process. There are other critical parts to the process. Keller and her citizens may want a certain type and style of development. Wanting something and getting something are different things. Development projects, good or bad, are not constructed by the city. The developers, financiers, and builders who do create these projects have to be a part of the planning and review process.

Apartments

The continued development of Keller is coming, we can not stop that. Our job is to manage our growth and get the absolute best results possible. Apartments in Keller have been a hot issue for years. There have been lawsuits settled, promises made, zoning challenges argued, and organized opposition for just about every project that comes up. I will consider all of these things, and make the best decisions for the community. These decisions will be thoughtful and reasonable. Do not trust anybody who makes a promise just to get elected.

Public Art

This is an issue that many want to make central to this election. It is not. Anybody who runs, or votes, for a City Council Seat based on a single issue is setting themselves, and the people around them, up for disappointment. The job of a City Councilman is bigger than any single issue. The question of how to finance Public Art needs to be revisited. The options run a full range from 100% private funding to 100% public money. Some of the ideas that fall in between include:

1. Matching grants where the city may have a defined budget amount that can be given in the form of grants to match private money. This plan can have flexibility by varying the ratio of grant money to private funding. This also challenges the community to get involved and put up money. This option can give some budget planning and stability to allow for long term projects.

2. The City occasionally finds windfall revenue. The rent income from the cell tower is an example. Future examples may include gas well royalties from city properties. There may be some restrictions on where the money can be spent, but improving the parks with public art might be an option.

3. Impact fees can be charged on new developments. This plan has a limited life, because we will run out of places to build new developments. But, by the time that happens, there might be other private solutions to support the arts.

4. I am sure there are other good ideas out there. I am willing to hear them.

Vote Early -- April 28 - May 6, 2008

Election Day is May 10, 2008

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