Archive for the ‘Election Related’ Category
Kyle’s growth, debt has council candidates concerned
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010View original article from the Austin American Statesman
Six people are running for two open spots on the Kyle City Council this Saturday.
SAN MARCOS — With one council member leaving to run for mayor and another for a county commissioner seat, Kyle will see a big shake-up on its City Council after Saturday’s special election.
Six people are vying for two open council spots: Four are running for the District 5 seat, vacated by mayoral candidate Lucy Johnson, and two are running for the District 6 seat, vacated by Ray Bryant, who is running as a Democrat for a spot on the Hays County Commissioners Court.
As the city has experienced tremendous growth — it is the fifth fastest growing one in Texas — it has accumulated about $73 million in debt, faces rising taxes and has many pending infrastructure projects.
District 5 candidate Jaime Sanchez isn’t happy with the debt. The Kyle native wants to use his experience as a construction engineer to determine what projects are needed now and what can wait.
“We have some guys who want to put a moratorium on all new projects, but we do have some that need to proceed,” Sanchez said. He also said he wants to examine city operating costs and hiring practices with an eye toward making things more efficient.
Mike Fulton, who moved to Kyle from Las Vegas and works in information technology for an armored car company, criticized Kyle’s roads as “horrible.”
“We need to raise taxes for infrastructure, not silly little projects,” Fulton said. Freezing taxes will hurt the city’s ability to attract new businesses, he said.
“We’re not Austin. We don’t know what’s coming next year,” he said.
Jon Claeton, a tattoo artist and Kyle native, is highly critical of the outgoing city administration. Too many members haven’t lived in the city for more than a few years, he said, and are “emulating Washington by plunging us $73 million into debt.” He also said many are angling for higher office instead of doing their jobs as council members.
Claeton, also in the running for the District 5 spot, supports a moratorium on all nonessential city projects, but said he is in favor of the planned new police station.
“If the tattoo freak says we need a new police station, we need a new police station,” he said.
The final District 5 candidate, Army veteran and postal worker Johnny Simmang, said his aim is to “keep Kyle hometown Kyle.”
Simmang said he wants to keep the historic district as it is and put new growth near the new Seton Medical Center Hays, on the east side of Interstate 35.
In the District 6 race, banker Russ Huebner has a three-point plan to solve the city’s debt problem: putting a five-year moratorium on new debt, making a planned tax increase next year the last for five years, and increasing the city’s strategic plan to look at least 15 years ahead instead of five.
Huebner said a new police station should be a top priority but added that the city should save for a few years then pay for it in cash. The city has many places for new businesses and industries, he said, but no business will want to come to Kyle if the tax rate keeps increasing.
“As a banker, I understand what debt means for people,” said Huebner.
The second District 6 candidate, Rhonda Cox, said she would like a referendum on a proposed $20 million recreation center.
Cox, an administrator at the University of Texas, said she would prefer hiring police officers over a new station, if forced to choose between the two, and opposes a tax freeze, saying it will put the city “10 or 15 years” behind.
“If we don’t put money into our infrastructure, no one’s going to want to come to Kyle,” she said.
pgeorge@statesman.com; 512-392-8750
Two Kyle council members vie to be mayor
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010Two Kyle council members vie to be mayor
Johnson and Lopez have different ideas on city’s growth
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Lucy Johnson wants to cut debt load
Michelle Lopez wants better infrastructure
SAN MARCOS — The two Kyle City Council members running for mayor in Saturday’s special election have different visions on how the future of Kyle the fifth fastest-growing city in Texas should take shape.
District 1 Council Member Michelle Lopez and District 5 Council Member Lucy Johnson are running for the mayor’s seat vacated by Mike Gonzalez, who resigned to run for a spot on the Hays County Commissioners’ Court. Early voting ends today. Election Day voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kyle City Hall, 100 W. Center St.
The dominant issue for both candidates is how to best manage the city’s growth.
Lopez, an administrator at Texas State University, is also the chair of Kyle’s Economic Development Committee. She’d like to create an industrial park to attract more manufacturing and production jobs and improve infrastructure, city services and the community’s involvement in government, she said.
Johnson, a graphic designer, bills herself as the “more fiscally conservative candidate” and wants a more comprehensive growth plan and trims to the city budget.
With the addition of new retailers, restaurants, bars and the Seton Medical Center Hays, the bedroom community is rapidly changing.
Since 2000, the population of Kyle has increased almost fivefold, from 5,314 in 2000 to 26,103 in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That growth has come with a few headaches.
Kyle’s police department is dramatically understaffed compared with similarly sized cities. At the same time, the city has a relatively low crime rate, with 141.9 violent and property crimes per 10,000 residents. The statewide average is 449.4 per 10,000; the rate in Cedar Park and Georgetown is about 160 per 10,000, according to Texas Department of Public Safety reports.
The department is housed in an old post office building that is too small and fails to meet current needs, city officials said. The city’s five-year capital improvement plan includes a new station, but no funds have been set aside for it.
Johnson said the city carries $73 million of debt because of efforts to address rapid growth. She wants to push that down and keep the tax rate from rising.
She’s against a proposed $20-million recreation center, which the city probably will finish planning for in the next few months. The council would need to approve the project, before asking voters to approve a bond election to pay for it, something Johnson doesn’t think voters will support.
“We just can’t afford it right now,” she said. “Kyle is in a possibly difficult period with the economy.”
Lopez supports the recreation center, as did many residents before the economic downturn. But she wants to wait to bring it before voters until after November, when the election was originally planned, she said.
Johnson said she was the only council member who voted against the city budget in 2008, saying it had too many programs the city didn’t need. She also voted against a $100,000 plan to add an electric trolley service.
Lopez supported the trolley purchase — which is running one route — calling it a progressive step toward public transportation and reducing the city’s carbon footprint. “Most cities our size do not have trolleys, but it is a good step for us,” she said.
Lopez said she wants to see more citizen-based committees to advise the council. She also wants the city to have more civic events, such as Veterans’ Day parades and Martin Luther King Jr. Day festivities, so residents don’t have to go to Austin or San Marcos.
While he said he’d stay out of the race and wouldn’t endorse a particular candidate, Hays County Commissioner Jeff Barton , whose precinct includes Kyle, said both candidates were smart and hard-working members of city government.
“Kyle’s lucky to have two strong choices,” Barton said.
pgeorge@statesman.com; 512-392-8750
Just a few more days in Early Voting
Monday, February 8th, 2010Today and tomorrow are the final days in Early Voting. Get out today and cast your vote in Kyle Elections.
Early voting location:
Stop by Kyle City Hall located in downtown Kyle at 100 W Center Street
Monday, February 8th
Between the hours of 7am – 7pm
Tuesday, February 9th
Between the hours of 8am – 5pm
Part II: Kyle mayoral candidates Johnson and Lopez
Sunday, January 31st, 2010San Marcos Local News
Click here to see the original article
Kyle Mayoral candidates Michelle Lopez, left, and Lucy Johnson, right, at a recent Kyle City Council meeting. Photo by Lance Duncan.
By LANCE DUNCAN
News Reporter
The San Marcos Local News recently sat down separately with the two mayoral candidates, Lucy Johnson and Michelle Lopez, to highlight the differences between them and give them an opportunity to discuss why they are running for the office and what they want to accomplish if they win.
Both of the candidates currently serve on the Kyle City Council and are frequently outspoken on important issues. Lopez has been a councilmember since 2007, and Johnson since 2008.This is the second installment of our interviews with the two candidates.
Early voting began Wednesday. Election Day is Feb. 13.
San Marcos Local News: What kind of initiatives would you take to bring more Kyle citizens into the political process, specifically young families?
Michelle Lopez: I want to continue my council chats, and implement more technology to allow families who can’t attend a meeting or a chat to participate. I think that maybe we should have more opportunities during our community events to have a City of Kyle table, with a councilmember or a staff member to take feedback on a regular basis. I would like for us to try to look at ways to go ahead and purchase the equipment which we need to install, such as cameras in the council chambers so we can begin to broadcast our meetings. I do believe that if we’re going to really engage families, particularly with younger children, we can look at creating partnerships with the local school district and community groups, to see that we’re getting our information out.
Lucy Johnson: I don’t think there is enough public involvement in the local council meetings and in public planning. I believe that’s because we haven’t done a good enough job in communicating and using customer service to reach out to our citizens. I think there is a disconnection between the average Kyle resident and City Hall, because City Hall actually makes it hard for citizens to come and reach out to both the city council and to staff. It’s very hard to get someone on the phone when you call City Hall, and public postings are not easily found by the public. They’re in different newspapers every month, sometimes they are not posted to our website, and the website is out of date. We don’t make enough of an effort to reach out to our citizens and to make it easy for them to reach out to us. I think there are lot of people who want to get involved in Kyle, but don’t know how.
SMLN: How do you feel about the county judge’s recent suggestion that it might be wise to hold our on issuing the remaining available debt for road projects? What is at stake for Kyle in this situation?
Lucy Johnson: The (November 2008, $207 million) road bond has been immensely important to Kyle’s growth and to the safety of our residents, especially those who are commuters into Austin and San Marcos. The overpass that we are replacing is one of the worst I-35 overpasses in the state of Texas. Work has already begun on the construction of the new bridge, and it would be ridiculous to delay funding now. Work has also started on new frontage roads in Kyle, and one of the most hazardous points of driving in and around Kyle is on the two-way frontage roads and the dangerous entry and exit ramps, in which commuters have to deal with oncoming traffic. The road bond package was already approved by voters in 2008. We need to make sure these improvements happen as soon as possible because accidents happen on these roads every month. If (Hays County Judge Liz) Sumter wants to delay funding for this because of budgetary concerns, I am holding our judge responsible for those accidents.
Michelle Lopez: It would concern me if our road project is in jeopardy, because it is essential to the mobility within our city. This project will also help increase potential economic development projects. I would hope that we could find ways to ensure that the project continues, so that we can fulfill the desires of the community members who voted for the road bonds.
SMLN: What is the biggest challenge facing Kyle?
Michelle Lopez: I think our biggest challenge is setting our priorities for the next 20 to 30 years. We need to engage our citizens and ensure that they are actively participating, so that when we make decisions they aren’t made in a vacuum. For example, we need to determine how we will complete our economic development strategic plan to bring more construction companies or manufacturing companies into Kyle. And city council will need to be creative in forming partnerships with other entities that can help us achieve our goals with the city, the region and even the state.
Lucy Johnson: It is probably managing our growth without incurring significant debt. There are so many improvements we could make to this city to improve the lives of our citizens. Maintaining and expanding our roads to meet the needs of growth and limiting congestion has been a huge challenge. We need to balance the needs of our growing city with reducing our burden of debt on taxpayers.
SMLN: Tell us your compelling vision of the future for Kyle.
Lucy Johnson: I want to see a healthy and vibrant business community in Kyle. I want to expand our commercial businesses. I want us to expand our tax base. I want to keep Kyle an affordable place to live. I grew up in a rural community and got to enjoy the rivers and streams and open spaces that make Hays County and Kyle such a beautiful place to live and grow up in. I want to make sure that those streams and open fields and rivers and beautiful vistas are going to be around for Kyle citizens to enjoy in the future. I want Kyle citizens to know that this city can remain a great place to live, work and raise their families in.
Michelle Lopez: When I think of the future of Kyle, I see a billboard that says “Destination: Kyle,” because everyone is wanting to join our community or come visit Kyle to find out why Kyle is so unique. When they arrive, they find it’s a community that’s composed of diverse families, of people who have a chance to work here in our vibrant economy, enjoy their free time with friends participating in outdoor sports activities or attending concerts, plays, and a regular poetry reading at the library. With all of these new and cultural activities happening, we continue to honor the heritage of our city through the train depot museum and the historical landmarks that we’ve continued to preserve for our city. For every resident, Kyle is a point of pride and is home.
Michelle provides her perspective on bringing ACC to Kyle
Saturday, January 30th, 2010Kyle voters go to the polls
Saturday, January 30th, 2010New 8 Austin
Click here to view original source
1/27/2010 8:03 PM
By: Russell Wilde
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The candidates for mayor say city debt and taxes are the big issues. | |
This year is going to be a year of changes for Kyle’s City Council.
The mayor and a council member resigned their offices to run for county commissioner. Two members of the Kyle City Council, Lucy Johnson and Michelle Lopez, both decided to run for mayor, dramatically changing the face of the Kyle City Council.
The candidates for mayor say city debt and taxes are the big issues.
“We have a significant amount of debt, but all those projects were things that truly have helped us to progress,” Lopez said. “There is a time for us to say, here’s what we think our community can withstand, and lets try to stay within those means.”
“I think the first step is to stop spending, is to put all these non-essential projects that we have on our wishlist on hold until we start to see a turn around in the economy,” Johnson said.
Johnson has lived in Kyle most of her life. As mayor, she said she would represent the community while the city continues to deal with growth.
“There has been a gap in communitcations between citizens and the city, and I’d like to bridge that gap,” she said.
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Lopez was elected to the council in 2007. In that time she has seen the challenges the city has faced as it’s grown.
“We’re sitting down and looking at our strategic plan. What do we need to do over the next few years to insure that we’re ahead of the growth curve,” she said.
Both cadidates say they’re committed to keeping the city a great place to live.
