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Below are questions for the Branch Herald’s Voters Guide for the May 3 election for Farmers Branch City Council’s contested races.
1. Length of residency in the City of Farmers Branch: I was raised in this community. Attended Cabell, Marsh and WT White public schools. We have lived in our current Farmers Branch home 22 years.
2. Why do you want to be a Farmers Branch City Councilmember? Over my lifetime God has blessed me with the desire to serve and granted the experience to represent well. I am truly humbled to be afforded the opportunity to retire early from my corporate career, which now allows me to dedicate time needed that the rigors of council requires.
My corporate marketing and finance background will be an asset on the council in how we approach budgeting priorities and communicate with the residents.
I have deep roots in Farmers Branch. Some of my earliest memories as a child are sitting with my mother in the morning as she read the morning paper and discussing the events of the day. It was that time together with her which instilled a love for community and service. On the council, I will strive to keep Farmers Branch the jewel of DFW and a desirable place to raise a family.
3. How many Farmers Branch City Council meetings have you attended or watched online in the last year? All
4. Outside of regularly scheduled meetings and work sessions, how many hours per month do you think a Farmers Branch Council member should commit to the job? Average 80 hours monthly between events, citizen communications, and preparing for council meetings.
5. Have you served on any City of Farmers Branch boards or commissions? If so, which ones? Charter Review Committee, Redistricting Committee
6. What other civic responsibilities have you undertaken? Crestbrook Community Watch in coordination with FBPD
7. How has current Farmers Branch City Council leadership influenced your decision to run for city council? I've been impressed with the thoughtful questions of the council on a wide variety of issues.
8. Name one specific new project or initiative you would like to see begun during your term? What actions are needed to implement it? Emergency Preparedness. The major fires, floods and even our own damaging ice storm a few years ago, highlight the need for entire communities to be prepared for the unexpected. Our first responders are amazing, but in times of crisis can become overwhelmed. We need to develop plans and provide training for citizens so the whole community can be prepared.
First, we need to inventory possible assets, such as churches that can be used as emergency shelters and non-profits that can aid with food and clothing and strategically align efforts. Second, in collaboration with fire and police, study best practices and assess our ability to respond. The final stage is communicating effectively with the neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses so that the whole community is informed and prepared.
9. What makes you the most qualified candidate in your race – and why? As a seasoned business professional, dedicated volunteer and long-term resident I’ve always put service over self. I understand that when establishing budget priorities, the council is using the people’s money, not the city’s. I’ll bring my experience as a small business owner and years of corporate finance work to provide excellent value to the taxpayers. This means excellent city services, wonderful parks, clean streets and safe neighborhoods while keeping taxes low.
Additionally, my time leading Crestbrook Estates Community Watch transformed a once-aging neighborhood into a vibrant hidden gem. Within a short time, Crestbrook became ranked the safest neighborhood in Addison, Carrollton, and FB by Dallas Morning News. To this day, young families strive to move into the Crestbrook area on the rare occasion a home comes onto the market. This is one example of my vision turning into lasting results. I seek to build unity and have never fomented any discord within our community.
10. What do you think about the demo/rebuild program and the city’s renaissance programs? (500 characters) I am in favor of both the demo/rebuild program and the city’s renaissance program with updates, such as adjusting tax incentives, which represent the changing market and needs of the city.
11. What can you, as a Council Member, do to improve the availability of affordable housing in Farmers Branch? (500 characters) Multiple high-density projects are currently in various stages of development. The housing market in FB is exceptionally affordable given the convenient location and compared to North Dallas and other nearby suburban communities. FB has an overabundance of small single family starter homes, thus the need for the current demo/rebuild program to improve the quality of housing stock.
12. How successful are the city’s current programs to address its aging infrastructure? What would you change? Please elaborate. The highest obligations of the city are first, to keep citizens safe, and second, to maintain, repair, and replace the city infrastructure to allow the community to prosper. Working as a unified council to ensure proper infrastructure maintenance and replacement funding is a top priority when prioritizing the city budget.
13. What is the single biggest challenge facing our city today? Managing responsible growth while maintaining our bedroom community “City in a Park” identity.
14. What are Farmers Branch’s most valuable amenities or benefits that you will work to maintain or expand? Great cities have great public spaces, along with a commitment to the arts. We are exceptional in our execution of community parks. Our expanding trail system, renovated Library and Rec Centers and historical park are shining examples of previous council initiatives. We are a city bounded by three of the busiest highways in the state. Hundreds of thousands of people pass our city every day. I want to expand our vision for beautiful public spaces to each of the major entrance points into our city and into our East and West business communities. This is the next step into truly branding our city as “A City in a Park.”
