Here is the Meet the Candidates questions.  They will have two minutes to answer each one.  They will also be given a chance to introduce themselves before we begin to ask the questions (2 minute time limit).  We encourage each of them to bring flyers or any other typed up information to hand out to the attendees.

1.      Are you in support that the mayor of HP has sole power to fire any city employee with or without cause and without council approval?

I do not support the mayor of HP the “sole power” to fire any city employee “with or without cause”. Council approval should only be involved in the termination of City Department Chiefs. Department Chiefs have the responsibility to manage their employee’s that report to them.

2.      Texas law provides for checks and balances on the powers of city governments, such as limits on what ordinances can be enacted.  What are your thoughts on how a councilperson effectively monitors and provides oversight of town operations by the mayor and city staff/employees?

We watch, we talk, we read, and we listen! We think with common sense. One example of the oversight is when the Mayor ordered the enforcement of the tree ordinance, it was suggested that a more measured approach of talking about the problem thus informing the public of the problem. Then we could have made sure that city owned trees were in compliance before sending out the notice to 800 homes out of 1200. I had people calling me at home in tears. I also got a notice. We then talked about the ordinance and the issue of permit costs. We have not addressed the issue further. But when we get into the budget I would like to look at this issue further.

3.      What is your position about fire contract with HCV?

I am in favor of a fair contract between HP and HCV. I think that we should be reimbursed by HCV for the costs of the Fire Department like our citizens pay for similar service. The current contract favors HCV by charging them on a ratio of their improvements to our improvements. I think it should be based on total value of all property. That is how our citizens pay. The difference is the land value. During droughts we have a higher risk of fire on land and our property is mainly irrigated yards but in HCV they have large area’s that are in “natural” condition. Should HCV decide they want their own fire department and not share with us in a single fire department, that decision would give HP redundant coverage if they build an acceptable quality department like ours allowing us to execute a mutual aide agreement.

4.      What have you done in the last 5 years to contribute to HP?

In the last 5 years I have been very active with helping making HP a better place to live by my role as President of the HPHOA and as a Councilman Place 3. I have been very active in monitoring Bexar Met Water District and serving on the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee and revising the impact fees that developers pay. This insures current rate payers are not charged for system improvements that are the direct result of the increased development burden.

5.      There is a proposal before the City Council that you feel is very beneficial to the city.   You can see no drawback to the proposal. You have received 80 emails against the proposal and 20 for the proposal from residents. How do you vote on the proposal and why?

First, 80% of responding citizens being against something are a drawback. That proposes that maybe I have missed something in my evaluation. I would be challenged to further investigate that position and arrive at a conclusion regarding the ordinance. I can vote to pass, vote to not pass or vote to delay.

In our American experience we have had leaders faced with these hypothetical situations. Civil Rights and going to War comes to my mind. Sometimes you have to do something in face of certain defeat by the voters the next election.

It comes with the job!