I'm opposed to the excessive development of multifamily rental properties that has changed the character of the city over the past decade. I'm even more opposed to the "bait and switch" game that some developers have played on city staff and councils. 

That doesn't mean I want to bulldoze the apartments we already have. I am not anti-apartment. I'm anti-proliferation of poorly designed and maintained high-density development in areas that don't have the infrastructure to support it.

Getting around town, and into and out of it, shouldn't be a daily challenge. 

A confluence of factors makes driving, walking, and traveling via public transportation in our area an often-frustrating experience. If elected mayor, I'll work with city management to find innovative ways to address road conditions, traffic congestion, walkability, and public transportation issues. 

I believe we in Rowlett need to step back and look at the big picture of transportation as a whole and learn from the mistakes and successes of other municipalities. 

Since October, it seems as if everyone in town has been talking trash. I've heard from many residents who aren't happy with the changeover from FCC to Republic Services for trash and bulk/brush pickup. I've fielded dozens of texts, emails, and calls about missed pickups, charges for extra bags, and neighborhoods with bulk items sitting out for a month or more. I'm sure our Republic Services rep is tired of hearing from me.

As mayor, I will continue to hold the company accountable. We can expect some glitches during a transition, but residents should be able to expect - barring unusual circumstances - that their trash will be picked up on the scheduled day, that their bins will not be left blocking their driveways, and that if they put it out at the proper time, bulk and brush will not be left on their curbs for weeks. 

People are angry, and I understand. But the council didn't just decide on a whim to switch trash companies. Please read the rest of the story. 

Downtown is the heart of any city. We have a few great restaurants and shops, but we need more. Rowlett deserves a downtown that we can be proud of, and I'm happy to have been part of a council that has taken some large and small steps to make it so. The downtown strategic plan that we commissioned lays the foundation, but it will require more than the council's and city staff's efforts - we must also not only allow but encourage our residents to get involved. 

I took the initiative to advocate for a downtown advisory board, which will provide an organized means by which businesses and citizens can get involved. If elected mayor, I will continue to seek the input of our residents in bringing about the transformation of our downtown. 

You've seen the comments on social media: "All we have in Rowlett is liquor stores, nail salons, fast food places, and warehouses." It's not true, but it's the perception that many of our own residents have about our city. As mayor, I want to help repair that reputation. 

I want to bring more businesses into Rowlett to help relieve the tax burden on our residents, but I also want to encourage a more balanced and more diverse selection of restaurants, retail, and commercial ventures. And I want to know what you, the people, want. That was my impetus for proposing the establishment of a downtown advisory board, but my support for citizen input and involvement extends to economic development citywide.

Every city talks a lot about transparency. It's invariably a goal in the strategic plan, if not part of the mission statement. But most seem to fall short in the execution. Rowlett is, in my opinion, no exception. 

Transparency is the foundation on which true public service rests. It enables citizen involvement and “customer satisfaction.” The first step in solving problems in government is acknowledging that they exist.

Transparency aids in communication and prevents misunderstandings. Citizens who have real information regarding why decisions were made and why things were done in a certain way are less likely to misinterpret actions as having ulterior motives. 

Why is it so difficult for government to be open with its citizens? 

Rowlett 2018 Strategic Plan

The focus recently has been on the brand new, shiny Downtown Rowlett Strategic Plan.
It's an important element in the successful development of our city.
But what about the strategic plan that governs Rowlett as a whole?

Rowlett is a city in search of an identity; we can't be all things to all people. Before we can move forward with a clearcut and realistic vision, we have to more specifically define "what we want to be when we grow up." 

Since everyone else is discussing it, let's talk about the elephant and the donkey in the room. In Texas (unlike in many other states), municipal elections (unlike those at the county level and above) are generally non-partisan. But what does that mean? 

Many people have asked me about this, so I wanted to address it here. In a nutshell, in a non-partisan election, a party affiliation doesn't appear next to a candidate's name on the ballot. That's all it means, no more and no less. 

What exactly does the mayor do, anyway?

Short answers:

The mayor in our home-rule city with a council-manager form of government:

• presides over the council meetings,
• sets agenda items and approves the agenda,
• signs official city documents,
• performs ceremonial duties,
• represents the city in the region and at the state and national levels,
• serves as a spokesperson for the city, and
• serves as the governor’s designated agent in the administration and supervision of disaster management duties set out in state law. 

But there is more to it than that. 

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. It's a wonderful tool for keeping in touch - whether that's college student staying up on what's happening back home or an elected official communicating information to constituents - but it's a two-edged sword and it's easy to get cut by its sharp edges. 

On the advice of the city attorney that doing so creates a risk of violating the law, early in my council term I stopped posting about city business in social media groups such as Rowlett TX and its clones. There are multiple reasons not to do so.

I do use social media in a safer and more legally proper way, posting city-related information and opinions on my "public official" page. I also reply promptly to my email and text messages and return phone calls. I will continue that policy as mayor. 

An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises.
- Mae West

Politicians who don't keep the promises they make during their campaigns: it's such a common occurrence that it has become a cliche. Broken promises are almost an expectation - but that shouldn't be. 

It's not always because people running for office massage the truth to get votes, although some do. More often, though, candidates for council - especially those who haven't served before - genuinely don't understand the limitations of their authority once they get elected.

But I consider it my responsibility, when I'm asking the people to vote for me, to say what I mean and mean what I say. When I make a promise, I intend to keep it. 

Facebook can be a great source of information, but also of misinformation. There seems to be a misperception out there regarding my involvement with past personnel decisions at the animal shelter. As I've noted throughout these position papers, council members have no control over the hiring and firing of city employees who work under the city manager, including directors and managers. 

I've advocated for the animals, the animal shelter and animal services since 2009 when I served as facilities subcommittee chair on the bond committee and saw the terrible shape our shelter was in. I have been an animal advocate all my life and anyone who knows me knows the importance I place on all the creatures and critters.