1. What are your qualifications to be a County Commissioner of Precinct 2?
I am currently an elected official serving as the President of KCFWSD 1-B which is a district within Windmill Farms. I was first elected in 2008 and started my second term in 2012. The job description of County Commissioner mirrors that of a FWSD President. I set the yearly property tax rate, call and certify elections. I also oversee the construction and improvements of all district roads and district infrastructure. I adopt and manage the district budget as well as fill vacancies in elective and appointed positions. I also have exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the district.
2. What do you see as the single most important issue facing Precinct 2?
The infrastructure such as roads and services have to keep pace with the growth. Without adequate planning and staying ahead of the growth curve, we can easily curb economic development in Precinct 2. You don't want to get too far ahead and apply funds to projects without near term needs because that would not be a wise use of taxpayer funds.
3. How do you plan to address the issue mentioned above?
We need to take an inventory of current projects and approved projects to weigh the impact and benefit to Kaufman County and Precinct 2 residents in particular.
We cannot be afraid to make the difficult decisions to cancel projects if they are of minimal benefit to the county's residents. We have an obligation to make the best use of the county's infrastructure budget to support our growth and increase the quality of life in Precinct 2.
4. As a commissioner, what steps would you take to address security concerns at the Kaufman County courthouse?
There are two areas of concerns:
(1) Violence against County personnel (including judges and lawyers). The expanded use of metal detectors and security personnel needs to be pursued. We owe it to our judicial system employees to provide a safe environment for them to conduct our county's business.
(2) Separation of jurors and the accused. We need to research traffic flows, movable partitions, and court schedules to minimize this contact as much as possible. Jurors shouldn't be afraid of meeting criminal elements while they are performing their civic duty.
5. How would you utilize the $1 million allocated to Precinct 2 from the Kaufman County Transportation bond for road materials?
We need to take a 3 step approach:
(1) Immediate fixes to potholes, sagging roadbeds, and asphalt breeches
(2) Review existing traffic projects to determine if the expenditure is still required (has the traffic pattern changed since the traffic flow analysis was completed?)
(3) Use updated traffic flow studies to apply funds to those roadway improvement projects with the most critical need to county residents and which support the county's growth needs.
We need to maintain oversight of these projects in order to keep our infrastructure improvements within budget.
It boils down to being a good steward of the taxpayer's funding and the confidence that they've placed in me when they elect me to be their next County Commissioner of Precinct 2.
I am currently an elected official serving as the President of KCFWSD 1-B which is a district within Windmill Farms. I was first elected in 2008 and started my second term in 2012. The job description of County Commissioner mirrors that of a FWSD President. I set the yearly property tax rate, call and certify elections. I also oversee the construction and improvements of all district roads and district infrastructure. I adopt and manage the district budget as well as fill vacancies in elective and appointed positions. I also have exclusive authority to authorize contracts in the name of the district.
2. What do you see as the single most important issue facing Precinct 2?
The infrastructure such as roads and services have to keep pace with the growth. Without adequate planning and staying ahead of the growth curve, we can easily curb economic development in Precinct 2. You don't want to get too far ahead and apply funds to projects without near term needs because that would not be a wise use of taxpayer funds.
3. How do you plan to address the issue mentioned above?
We need to take an inventory of current projects and approved projects to weigh the impact and benefit to Kaufman County and Precinct 2 residents in particular.
We cannot be afraid to make the difficult decisions to cancel projects if they are of minimal benefit to the county's residents. We have an obligation to make the best use of the county's infrastructure budget to support our growth and increase the quality of life in Precinct 2.
4. As a commissioner, what steps would you take to address security concerns at the Kaufman County courthouse?
There are two areas of concerns:
(1) Violence against County personnel (including judges and lawyers). The expanded use of metal detectors and security personnel needs to be pursued. We owe it to our judicial system employees to provide a safe environment for them to conduct our county's business.
(2) Separation of jurors and the accused. We need to research traffic flows, movable partitions, and court schedules to minimize this contact as much as possible. Jurors shouldn't be afraid of meeting criminal elements while they are performing their civic duty.
5. How would you utilize the $1 million allocated to Precinct 2 from the Kaufman County Transportation bond for road materials?
We need to take a 3 step approach:
(1) Immediate fixes to potholes, sagging roadbeds, and asphalt breeches
(2) Review existing traffic projects to determine if the expenditure is still required (has the traffic pattern changed since the traffic flow analysis was completed?)
(3) Use updated traffic flow studies to apply funds to those roadway improvement projects with the most critical need to county residents and which support the county's growth needs.
We need to maintain oversight of these projects in order to keep our infrastructure improvements within budget.
It boils down to being a good steward of the taxpayer's funding and the confidence that they've placed in me when they elect me to be their next County Commissioner of Precinct 2.