October 19, 2022 News-Dispatch

News-Dispatch

Dripping Springs hosts Songwriters Festival

ELECTION 2022

Candidate forum held in Buda

County judge, treasurer and district attorney on the ballot

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

HAYS COUNTY — Three hopeful county leaders gathered with members of the community to discuss their expertise and goals if elected to office.

The Buda Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a candidate forum during its monthly luncheon on Oct. 12. Participating in the forum were Ruben Becerra (incumbent) for County Judge, David Puryear for District Attorney and Britney Bolton Richey (incumbent) for County Treasurer. Jacquie Hollis Martinez served as moderator.

Commissioner Mark Jones, who is running for County Judge, Kelly Higgins, who is running for District Attorney and Daphne Tenorio, who is running for County Treasurer, were not present due to scheduling conflicts.

WMGA tournament coming up

BY MEGAN WEHRING

WIMBERLEY – Golfers in Wimberley will be heading for the green soon.

The Woodcreek Men’s Golf Association (WMGA) announced the Club and Senior Championship Tournament to be held at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12,

and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Double J Ranch Golf Club located at 1 Pro Lane in Wimberley.

The two-day tournament, which has taken place annually since 1975, is considered to be the highlight of the season for Wimberley area golfers.

The Club and Senior Champions are announced at the end of the two days and an award recognition dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Club

Champion must play from the blue tees and the Senior Champion from the white tees. The Senior Champion must be at least 70 years old.

The Club Champion and Senior Club Champion will have the lowest gross score for each category. Other winners are based on the lowest net score for the two days.

Players must be members of the WMGA for 2022 and fill out a WMGA Club Championship Registration Form available

on the Double J Ranch Golf Club bulletin board in the clubhouse – the registration form and $60 entry fee are due no later than Nov. 10.

Players need to have a current United States Golf Association's Golf Handicap Information Network handicap and consider Double J Ranch Golf Club as their home course.

For more information about the event, contact WMGA President Mike Schneider at mikedschneider@twc.com.

Jones is a Hays County native and has served as Pct. 2 County Commissioner since 2010. He is also a board member for CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization), vice president of the Capital Area Housing Corporation, vice president of the Hays County Food Bank and board member of the Hays County Education Foundation.

Becerra was elected county judge in 2018. During his tenure, his

priorities have included criminal justice reform, low tax rates and improving services to citizens. He has been recognized as a county leader in emergency management in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, has served on a variety of local boards and commissions and comes from a small business background.

“I’ve had the privilege of being your county judge against all odds,” Becerra said. “The job I have today as county judge is the best job I’ve ever had, because I’m impacting lives in ways I would have never imagined.”

Becerra’s goals, if re-elected, include maintaining his refined approach to community and emergency response and modernizing the justice system, noting that the county spends $15,000 a day to outsource inmates. He believes that regional communication regarding infrastructure and transportation in Hays County is important, and in being more mindful and conscientious of how the county uses water and protecting wells already in place.

The district attorney’s duties include representing the state in prosecuting felony criminal convictions, working with law enforcement officers in the investigation of

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Marcedes Carroll performs during the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival on the Destination Dripping Springs Stage in the Warehouse District. Carroll was among dozens of songwriters in town. A powerful singer and prolific songwriter with visual lyrics that reflect upon her mountainous roots, Carroll was born in Colorado and raised in Montana. As a young girl, Carroll says she always wanted to be a singer and sang lullabies to her little brother and the Titanic theme song over and over to her grandmother. Her latest release is “She’s Pretty Vol 2” available at marcedescarroll.com.

PUERTO RICO NATIVE BRINGS AUTHENTIC SWEETS TO SMALL TOWN –

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

(From left): Officers of the WMGA, Mike Schneider, John Poe, Chris Gerling and John Hull.

Ruben Becerra

Mark Jones

Britney Richey

Kelly Higgins

David Puryear

Daphne Tenorio

See ELECTION,

Puerto Rico native brings authentic sweets to small town

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

WIMBERLEY — A Puerto Rico native, Jennifer Carter, dreamed of having her own business, but she was never sure what kind until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Like many others, Carter stayed home and finally had the time to brainstorm and develop the idea of starting her own bakery: Coquí Sweets Y’all.

Coquí Sweets Y’all started operations in 2021. The name was partially inspired by Puerto Rican tree frogs – and she also wanted to embrace her Texas culture by adding ‘Y’all’ at the end.

“That just had a good ring to it,” Carter said.

Initially, Carter thought she would like to bake larger cakes but decided cupcakes were a better fit.

Carter is a cottage baker, meaning she bakes from home and produces

IT’S FALL Y’ALL!

traditional Puerto Rican Bizcocho Mojadito cakes and cupcakes, which is a moist vanilla cake with almond frosting. Carter also bakes guava pastries, a common dessert in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. The guava pastry is a puff pastry with guava paste filling and powdered sugar.

Carter explained the challenges associated with starting her own business.

“It's just me. I don't have employees or anything of that sort,” Carter said. “[I am] the manager, the baker, the marketing; [I am] the person that does the shopping, customer service.”

Carter said her small business has been an “adventure.”

“There’s just so many ins and outs,” Carter said, referring to the small things small businesses need for pop-ups. “It’s not just your product and you showing

up. You need your canopy, your table, all the little details.”

All of Carter’s baked goods must have a sticker detailing what the product is and any allergens with a “Thank You” sticker.

In the future, Carter would like a commercial kitchen where shipping could be an option, along with a small storefront. She is also working on an official website that will be up and running within the next month.

A half-dozen cupcakes order starts at $18, and friendship mini-cakes are $9. Single cupcakes and Coquí Sampler boxes are currently only available at pop-up events. There are four cupcakes and two guava pastries included in a sampler box. Coquí Sweets Y’all’s next vendor event will be at BooHole Halloween at Blue Hole in Wimberley on Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

DS Pumpkin Festival continues

The Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is continuing through Oct. 30. Located at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead, the festival is chock-full of fun, family-friendly fall activities like a corn pit, petting zoo, monster-themed

stations,

live music,

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games,

and market vendors and

Visit www.

of autumn photo-ops and pumpkins to choose from at the

for more

Celebrate the co-op difference

October is National Cooperative Month

the meaning of

and see why

PEC

We proudly support our hometown talent

Those interested in placing an order can select “Get quote” on Coquí Sweets Y’all’s Instagram page, send Carter a direct message on Facebook/ Instagram or email

questions and orders to coquisweetsyall@gmail. com.

CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER CARTER Jennifer Carter takes a selfie with her husband and kids.

CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER CARTER Guava pastries are a common dessert in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Weekend 4’s activities included all-things pumpkin themed. The Golden Pumpkin contest was won by Paul Kalka who guessed its weight of 82 pounds. The actual weight was 81.1 pounds.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

The pumpkin seed count contest was won by Natasha Reesor who guessed the number of seeds at 20,000.

actual number of seeds was 21,240.

Buda Area Chamber hosts candidate forum

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

HAYS COUNTY

Several candidates on the November ballot gathered with residents at a public forum hosted by the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. to discuss issues important to the community.

Greeted by a full house, Hays County Commissioner candidates for Precinct 2, Dr. Michelle Cohen and former Kyle Mayor Mike Gonzalez, and Precinct 4 candidates Susan Cook and Walt Smith answered three questions related to water and transportation in the county.

WATER Cook, who initially decided to get in the race due to her concerns about water resources, emphasized the need for a long-term water conservation plan and building homes to meet environmental challenges.

“Year after year, we try to imbed good, sound rainwater harvesting, it gets knocked down by the developer class,” Cook said. “We can’t listen to ‘Oh no, we can’t afford that.’”

Smith, who is up for re-election, said he had fought hard to get additional authority for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) in the last two sessions. Still, counties are statutorily weak when it comes to water. He advocated for incentivizing developers on the front end to recoup initial county funding to incentivize homeowners in their development to do rainwater capture and wells through photoionization detectors (PIDS).

Cohen mentioned neighbors who complained about their water shutting off without notice. She would seek

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solutions and depend on the experts.

Gonzalez said there are two aspects to consider: affordability and availability. He advocated for a diverse portfolio of water sources.

TRANSPORTATION

As for transportation, Cohen was concerned about the Kyle Road Bond plan because it consists of several roundabouts –which is something that many residents have been anxious about.

Cook said the county needs “real” traffic solutions that are easy and inexpensive.

“We don’t need to be choosing roads on who gave a certain commissioner money [or] who built that road,” Cook said.

Smith said he was proud of the county’s master transportation plan.

JP CANDIDATES

Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace candidates Sandra Bryant and Karen Marshall shared their thoughts about individuals thinking that judicial races, like the Texas Supreme Court and Justice of the Peace, should be made nonpartisan positions.

Bryant believes the justice of the peace office should be nonpartisan and not reflect any party affiliation.

“As a judge, you’re going to serve each and every one,” Bryant said.

Marshall said this had been an ongoing issue since the 1800s.

“I believe the reason that Texas chose partisan positions for Justice of the Peace and other judges is because they wanted the people to elect versus having others in power, just putting someone in there that would benefit themselves,” Marshall said.

Marshall added that Judge Doyle was leaving the office in “very good shape,” but this was a “new era” for Precinct

Bryant, who is passionate about her community, said she would work to move the docket effectively.

DISTRICT 45 STATE REP. State House of Representative candidates for District 45, Erin Zwiener and Michelle Lopez, answered questions related to school funding.

“We have to, as a state, keep our commitment to our kids, and we’re not,” Zwiener said. She supports passing a constitutional amendment to require the state to fund at least 50% of the cost of public schools. “That is fundamentally the only way to keep our property taxes from going through the roof year after year after year.”

Lopez, who works in higher education, said the education system needs to

consider how the state uses allocated funds. If elected, Lopez will focus on job growth, the economy and safety.

“We all have to learn to live within our means, and the Texas government, our state government, should do the same,” Lopez said. “We’ve heard earlier about the issues of fentanyl coming across our borders. Also, the issues of trafficking — all of the things that create safe neighborhoods for us are the areas that I would put my efforts toward as your state representative.”

Zwiener said she would restore reproductive freedom and advocate for common sense gun safety if re-elected.

“We need to get back on track focusing on Texas lives instead of picking partisan fights,” Zwiener said.

COUNTY CLERK CANDIDATES

County clerk candidates Linda Duran and Elaine Cardenas responded to questions

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Dripping Springs:

related to safety issues and voting issues.

Duran said she would focus on reopening satellite offices and changing business hours.

Cardenas, who is running for re-election, said she would advocate for better wages and prepare for financial difficulties.

Regarding safety measures, Cardenas said she would engage with the Department of Homeland Security for

security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Duran said she would remove access from employees' personal computers and ensure new hires have taken a state-mandated security awareness program.

Early voting begins on Oct. 24. Election day will be Nov. 8. For more information, visit www. hayscountytx.com/ departments/elections.

Puzzle

Charley & Guy Orbison

5. She has served under Texas Attorney Generals Ken Paxton and Dan Morales, and she will collaborate with law enforcement.

Elaine Cardenas

Michelle Gutierrez Cohen

Karen Marshall

Mike Gonzalez

Susan Cook

Erin Zwiener

Michelle Lopez

Linda Duran

Sandra Bryant

Walt Smith

Opinion

Candidate question: What is the water plan?

Susan Cook, and Walt Smith were the only candidates that answered this week’s question:

Is there a Hays County plan to bring water infrastructure to all of the existing homesteads and subdivisions that are completely dependent on the aquifers during a multi-year drought? Only those living in cities in Hays County will be sure to have water during a multi-year drought. What is the plan for all of the rural well owners, and subdivisions that are not hooked up to a city water pipeline?

Susan Cook Precinct 4 County Commissioner Candidate

There is no county-

criminal cases, presenting cases to the grand jury and representing victims of violence and protective orders.

Higgins has practiced criminal law in Hays County courts for over 20 years. One judge urged him to run for the position, and he decided now is the time to “bring necessary reforms to Hays County.”

Puryear’s legal career spans nearly 40 years. He has served as a county and state prosecutor, and as a trial judge and most recently an appellate judge, for nearly 20 years in the Austin Court of Appeals.

by David Patterson

wide plan to do this, but some  communities are already contracting with water suppliers like the West Travis County PUA, the GBRA or with other entities branching off from San Antonio's Vista Ridge pipeline.

State and federal funding, and development fees, would allow residents to install rainwater harvesting systems into their homes, and businesses.  This may be in addition to, or instead of current wells, or water

“This is a critically important race for the people of Hays County. Your District Attorney is, without question, the most powerful office in the county,” Puryear said. “We all know that we are experiencing explosive growth, and unfortunately with that growth comes crime. … It is critically important that your DA have the requisite, background, experience and knowledge. I have that experience.”

Some of the top issues Puryear wants to address, if elected, include building the “most talented, professional and ethical” group of attorneys in the

piped in from surface water or other non-local sources. These costs must be simply part of doing business in Hays County.

Embedding rainwater harvesting into our County Subdivision Regulations, so that all new construction is already equipped to fully utilize rainwater as either a sole source, or a supplemental water supply, is essential.

Walt Smith, County Commissioner Precinct 4

Your question is a great one that is more dictated by state law than to the county’s ability to force change. Currently under the “rule of capture’” in Texas, property owners have the ability to drill and

state, tackling the fentanyl crisis and working through a court backlog that is “unacceptable,” as there are pending cases that are sometimes up to seven years old. Puryear also said he believes the current line prosecutors are not as empowered as they should be to deal with the cases that are assigned to them.

The county treasurer is the chief custodian of the county finances and is charged with the safekeeping of the investing of county funds, including the maintenance and reconciliation of all checking accounts under the care of the treasurer, and

pump the water they need for residential use.  While the county can incentivize rainwater capture and limit certain lot sizes over the aquifer that are solely in the county, cities can promote more density and choose to do so regularly.

As a member of the Commissioners Court and a board member of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency I’ve worked hard with our residents to address these issues. They have to be addressed in several ways. The first is limiting the density of growth where we can and preserve the green spaces which serve as natural filtration for the aquifer. We can do this by promoting rainwater capture, less

the disbursement of funds.

Tenorio, in a statement read by Buda City Council member Terry Cummings, said that as a former Kyle City Council member, she made “tough decisions” on the budget, consistently voting for lower budgets and sometimes being the only one to do so. She was elected the first female president of the Association of Municipal Hispanic Officials, served on the Texas Municipal League board, and has experience as an accountant and small business owner.

“You work hard for your money, and you deserve to have somebody on your

impervious cover and monitoring the aquifer to see changes long before they become problems.

The second need is to ensure more water, from outside our aquifer, is available. We can do this by using an “all options” approach that includes both groundwater and surface water to be brought here to supplement our resources and prevent wholesale, continuous drilling into our supply and ensure new developments use these outside sources. Cities within the county must participate in order to make this successful.

The last point is having a clear understanding of what happens to that water once it is used and how to best

side,” Tenorio wrote.

In Richey’s 32 years of experience working in the Hays County Treasurer's Office, she has handled the county’s investment portfolio since 1996 and was elected as treasurer in 2018. She has instructed investments from the county to local governments in Texas for more than 20 years.

Some of Richey’s goals to address, if re-elected, include ensuring the county can earn money in investments and safeguarding funds and liquid in case of recession, targeting fraud prevention and being transparent with

recapture/reuse it again and again. By eventually going to complete reuse and aquifer recharge for reuse water we can drop usage dramatically and reach sustainable goals for our area.

All that said, I’ve been proud to partner with other commissioners to create programs to measure and monitor the Onion Creek watershed and the Hays/Trinity Aquifer to get a clear view of where we are and continue to help lead efforts to plan for the droughts we know will come in the future. Without this continued effort the issues of water availability will just progress.

residents.

“I’m a local girl; I’m not going anywhere. This is where I’m from, and to me, this is personal. This is our money, our family’s money, our friend’s money, and it is my job to keep it safe and liquid and able to use for your needs as the commissioners court designates,” Richey said. “I’ve done a very good job for you; I’m dedicated to it. I really care about it.”

Early voting begins on Oct. 24. Election day will be Nov. 8. More information can be found at www.hayscountytx.com/ departments/elections.

Westlake defense takes down a gritty Tiger offense

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN DRIPPING SPRINGS —

The Dripping Springs Tigers (6-1 district, 4-1 overall) and the Austin Westlake Chaparrals (7-0 district, 5-0 overall) went helmet to helmet on Friday night at Tiger Stadium, where Westlake defeated Dripping Springs (29-10).

Dripping Springs head coach Galen Zimmerman said the Tigers were out of sync.

“We’d make some big plays, and then we’d hurt ourselves, jumping or something like that, so we got to get back to being consistent,” Zimmerman said. “You can’t be inconsistent against a great defense. They got a great defense; they got a great pass rush — you can’t be one-dimensional against that.”

Westlake junior kicker Spencer Barnett's 30-yd field goal attempt was good, and the Chaparrals scored late in the first quarter with 3:30 remaining (3-0).

At the start of the second quarter, the Chaparrals wasted no time getting within scoring distance. But a resilient Tiger defense wouldn’t let them score without a fight. After being unsuccessful at executing a play, Barnett kicked a 28yard field goal with about

eight minutes remaining in the half (6-0).

Senior wide receiver Walker Wright kicked a 35-yard field goal with 3:13 left in the half, putting the Tigers on the board (6-3). But Westlake wasn’t about to let the Tigers get too comfortable. Barnett kicked a 46-yd field goal with 45 seconds left in the half to keep the Chaparrals in the lead (9-3).

During the third quarter, Westlake scored its first rushing touchdown of the night. Junior running back Jackson Kayser ran for 43 yards, and the PAT was good (16-3). The Tiger offense responded with a short pass from senior quarterback Austin Novosad to senior tight end Boston Papp, which put the Tigers back in it. The PAT was good (16-10).

Westlake junior quarterback Paxton Land ran for 24 yards into the endzone to score with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Although the kick was no good, the Chaparrals widened the lead (22-10).

With about five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Novosad threw a picksix. The interception put the Chaparrals on their own 19-yard line, and a short pass from senior defensive back Will Courtney to senior wide receiver Jaden Greathouse

earned Westlake its final touchdown of the night. The PAT was good, and the Chaparrals finished out the night (29-10).

Westlake placed a heavy amount of pressure on Novosad. The Baylor commit threw three picksixes in the fourth quarter.

Going into Friday’s game, Westlake head coach Tony Salazar’s strategy for the defense was to get at the quarterback.

“I think once we started getting some pressure, get’em off his spot, I think things started to turn our way,” Salazar said. “One touchdown pass and three interceptions against one of the top three quarterbacks in the state of Texas, you’ll take that any day of the week,” Salazar said.

Although it was a tough loss for the Tigers, Zimmerman said he was proud of his team and how they fought. Zimmerman thought the defense gave the team a chance.

“I felt like we played good all the way through. It was just a couple mistakes here or there that we gotta clean up because against a good team like that, against the number one team in the state, you can’t make those,” Zimmerman said.

The Tigers will play its next district game on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. against Lake Travis in Austin.

Tigers swept 3-0 by the Chaparrals

BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

DRIPPING SPRINGS

– On Friday, Oct. 14, Dripping Springs High School hosted the Chaparrals from Westlake High School. The Chaps swept the Tigers (25-18, 25-20 and 26-24).

The Tigers are in 3rd place with a district record of 11-2 with 3 games remaining on the schedule.

The Chaps are currently in 2nd with a district record of 12-2. During the first round of district play, Sept. 13, the Tigers swept the Chaps 3-0 on the road at Westlake High School. The Tigers’ next home game will be against Bowie High School on Oct. 25.

A more human way to healthcare™

PHOTO BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Westlake junior running back Jackson Kayser carries the ball during the first quarter.

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

Dripping Springs senior wide receiver Greyson Jones blocks the field goal attempt by Westlake junior kicker Spencer Barnett with the Tigers trailing 9-3 and only a few seconds remaining before halftime.

PHOTO BY WAYLAND D. CLARK

After catching a pass from senior Tiger quarterback Austin Novosad, a 40- yard run by senior wide receiver Garon Duncan and another run by free safety Kade Curry helped set up a touchdown. Dripping Springs senior tight end Boston Papp scored on a 7-yard pass from Novosad midway through the third quarter to cut Westlake’s lead 16-10

Bryan "Scott" Vance

PHOTO BY ALBERT SANCHEZ

Dripping Springs senior outside hitter Mackenzie Plante spikes the ball as Westlake senior setter Cameron Shelly jumps up for a block.

Residents can vote anywhere in county under new set up

Hays County is now a vote center county!  You may now vote at any open polling location in the county on both Election Day and during early voting.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting is convenience voting, allowing a registered voter to vote at any early voting location during a typically two-week period prior to Election Day.  For general information on early voting visit our voter registration and ballot by mail page.  Early voting schedules are posted on the

relevant election’s page, which will be hosted on the Current Elections page.

BALLOT BY MAIL

You may apply for a ballot by mail if you:

· will be away from Hays County on Election Day and during early voting;

· are disabled;

· are 65 years of age or older on election day; or

· are confined in jail.

The last day to submit an

application for ballot by mail is 9 days (11 days if Election Day is a Tuesday) before Election Day

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE IN TEXAS?

Check your voter registration before the election in which you wish to vote. Use My Voter Portal from the Texas Secretary of State to find out if you are already registered in to vote in Texas.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?

The Texas Secretary of State — the state’s election authority —

has ruled that you can register to vote in Texas if you:

* are a U.S. citizen;

* are a resident of the county where you submit the application;

* will be at least 18 years old on Election Day;

* are not a convicted felon (though you will be eligible to vote if you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and

* have not been declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.

SCAN TO FIND YOUR POLLIING PLACE

CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT

HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY KELLY HIGGINS

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Over the past few years, Hays County has grown from a sleepy rural county to the heavily populated county it is today. Unfortunately, crime has accompanied that growth, both from within and from the escalating criminal activity in Austin. A year ago, with strong encouragement from the law enforcement community, I decided to run for district attorney.

My 40 years’ experience as a prosecutor, trial court judge and appellate court judge make me the only qualified candidate in this race. Known, trusted and supported by our law enforcement, I will be tough but fair in holding criminals accountable.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

The main objective every day of my administration will be to protect the people of Hays County by aggressively prosecuting criminal activity. There are, however, additional key issues to address. A top priority upon assuming office will be eliminating the unacceptably high backlog of cases. Having 5–7-year-old cases is delayed justice and it is extremely unfair to victims, testifying officers, and defendants facing pending charges.

Developing effective and efficient policies for handling cases, along with proper leadership of the office, will be key in resolving this backlog. My many years of experience serving as a prosecutor and leading large offices of prosecutors gives me the necessary knowledge and skill to accomplish this. An additional and extremely troubling issue is the fentanyl crisis confronting our county. Being well known and trusted by every law enforcement group in the county means I can begin working with them Day One on a plan to present

to our community leaders to stop this terrible threat.

As a former prosecutor and judge, I have the necessary credibility to immediately collaborate with relevant community members and groups in implementing a plan to eradicate this menace to our community. Forming a special team of prosecutors dedicated to working on this issue will be another of my top priorities. Finally, the rising incidence of violent crime in our county must be addressed. Much of it is related to drug trafficking and use. The criminals inflicting this violence must be, and will be, aggressively prosecuted.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

A key challenge facing this office will be addressing the increasing crime in Hays County. Much of it originates within our county, but unfortunately a large and growing part of it is spillover from nearby Austin. An experienced and knowledgeable prosecutor is critical to addressing this effectively. That is why every law enforcement group in Hays County supports me. My decades of experience will be valuable in developing our office of relatively young prosecutors into a strong cohesive team of highly competent and experienced lawyers. I have led and trained countless young prosecutors in the past. My years as prosecutor, trial court judge and appellate court judge make me uniquely qualified and further, I am the only candidate with the necessary background and experience. My mission will be to build a team of highly competent professionals who effectively and efficiently deal with the growing crime in our county. I served as a judge on the Austin Court of Appeals for 18 years, with jurisdiction over Hays County, which means I was in regular contact with most Hays

County elected officials. Having those relationships already in place means I can start Day One working with them to address the needs of our county.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I frequently find myself up early and still working late. I often find that 16 hours of work time is not enough!

What are your leadership qualities?

I have been in leadership positions for 30-plus years of my legal career. I have successfully managed as many as 150-plus people at a time. I have a calm and encouraging style of leadership and have always been able to bring out the best qualities in my team members. My approach is to set forth a clear mission, successfully train and support the staff in accomplishing that mission, empower the team members to independently act in meeting the objective and to lead by example.

My leadership-by-example is demonstrated by the fact that I, supported by my team of lawyers, was recognized on more than one occasion by the Texas Office of Court Administration as the most productive appellate court judge in the state.

I believe that can be directly attributed to my having set forth clear standards by which team members should operate, empowering them to act independently, and continually recognizing and praising quality work.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Judge Robert Updegrove first urged me to run for DA. I resisted the idea, but when the judge told me he thought I would do the right thing in office, I agreed to run. I realized that I would be able to bring needed change to Hays County, and a new sensibility to the office. The judge’s belief in me, and the vision of improvement for the county combined to convince me to run.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

The overarching issue is bringing Hays County’s criminal justice system into the present day. That effort has many aspects, from prosecutorial discretion to the creation of new divisions within the DA’s Office. I will create an Environmental Crimes Division and a Public Integrity Division to address the county’s astounding growth and the hazards that come with it. And I will help the courts clear their dockets more efficiently by diverting cases of simple drug possession into treatment programs, and by bringing serious cases to trial more promptly and with better results.

Importantly, I will not use the resources of Hays County to prosecute women or their families under Texas’ new antiabortion laws. Likewise, I will disregard AG KenPaxton’s opinion that families of trans youth are child abusers. Hays County taxpayers cannot be commandeered into a political witch hunt, and I will exercise prosecutorial discretion on their behalf to assure the proper use of resources.

I also intend to repair the low morale within the DA’s Office, which has seen the departure of Assistant District Attorneys for other counties. I will ensure that our ADAs are paid better, and given more latitude in their work in an effort to retain our legal talent.

Further, our DA’s Office has a poor record in diversity in hiring. I plan to recruit young lawyers from all backgrounds to provide the office with a more representative team of prosecutors.

And I will adopt policies reviewing the jail population on a daily basis, to ensure that nonviolent defendants are not held unreasonably before trial. Currently, our Sheriff houses inmates all over the state, and even in Oklahoma and Louisiana, all at tremendous expense to taxpayers. I will bring fiscal responsibility into line with Constitutional protections to improve this situation.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I will face challenges from the Commissioners’ Court in funding some of my plans, and I intend to work closely with the commissioners to ensure that our prosecutors are better paid, and that the new divisions are funded properly.

Apart from these fiscal concerns, I anticipate a short period of building trust with police agencies. I believe that this period will indeed be short, because I am not inclined to radical measures that would make police wary of change. The changes I intend to bring will be positively helpful to police, both in the field and in the courtrooms of Hays County.

Additionally, there will be political opposition to some of my policies.

I expect this in a society as sharply divided as ours is today. While the DA’s Office is not a public forum generally, still it prosecutes legal business in the name of the public, and political issues are part of the scope of the office. With this in mind, I will create a bi-weekly public meeting at the courthouse, which anyone may attend to share their concerns and thoughts regarding the policies of the office.

I will personally attend the meetings. Of course

it will not be a place for discussing particular cases, but for the public to be able to express itself directly to the District Attorney regarding the larger issues facing the county.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’ve been a night owl most of my life, but over the years I’ve become more of a morning person.

What are your leadership qualities?

I bring clear moral vision, honesty, and integrity to the issue of leadership. I believe that the ability to communicate this clearly with subordinates, together with efforts to improve working conditions and therefore morale, will create a climate of higher productivity and muchimproved results in court.

Leadership in this office is about supporting prosecutors in their work, and providing the vision of justice that they will pursue in our courts.

Those qualities are wellknown to the prosecutors within the DA’s Office, since I’ve worked directly with all of them for years. I believe that that long experience will be instrumental in quickly creating trust and a shared sense of mission with the entire staff. I do not propose to lead soldiers into battle, or athletes on the field of play. I propose to lead prosecutors I know well into Hays County courtrooms I know well, in pursuit of justice.

Ultimately my leadership qualities come down to honesty and courage, both of which matter more to lawyers and judges than anything else.

HAYS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVID PURYEAR

KELLY HIGGINS

DAVID PURYEAR

In preparation for our 2022 Voter’s Guide, Barton Publications reached to all of the candidates for Hays County Judge, Hays County Commissioner (Precincts 2 and 4), District Attorney, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Kyle City Council (Districts 1 and 3) and Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees (Places 4 and 5).

All candidates were given the same deadline. Barton Publications did not receive responses from Ruben Becerra, Mike Gonzalez, Walt Smith, Amanda Stark, Will Conley and Chad Canine.

HAYS

What or who inspired you to run for office?

The most recent motivator was the COVID pandemic and the freeze of 2021. Watching families suffer due to illness, death, loss of a job, food and rent insecurities, access to vaccines and hospital expenses. I do believe that it must be the right office for an individual and that is what I have been waiting for. Being county commissioner keeps me close to the community that I care for and want to protect.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Hays County is the fastest growing county in the nation and that growth has caused some significant issues in my precinct. The lack of proactive road infrastructure planning has caused major backup and delays for our residents.

Every intersection located on the east side has issues. As a county, I feel we handle most of our issues reactively instead of proactively.

We need more community infrastructure.

East Interstate Highway 35 does not have a community center or even a library. When we needed to provide basic resources to residents and the most vulnerable residents with water, food, COVID testing and COVID vaccines, we did not have the space.

When the freeze of 2021 happened, I remember how local officials were trying to figure out how to get water from the west side of IH35 to the east side. My organization stepped and passed out water and food to the east side.

The political climate has taken its toll on our local and county governments. We need to find common ground to move forward as a county for the good of all. We all need to assume this responsibility and stop with the blame.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

Every new elected official is under a microscope when they start their term. I am running for this office as a direct response to the disparities that exist in my community. I have lived in this county for a combined 30 years. My family still lives here, and I am genuinely running for the right reasons. I want to be that voice for our east side community that has historically underrepresented in every issue. With that said, it will be my responsibility to find ways to reach residents that have been discarded and bring them in.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I normally start my days at 4:00 AM. Running a campaign, planning events for my organization,

sending my daughter to school and getting ready for my regular workday has me working long hours.

What are your leadership qualities?  I received my doctorate in Organizational leadership which means I have a fascination with leadership and have a true understanding to what draws people to certain leaders. People are drawn to leaders that sometimes do not realize they are leading. Leadership is exhibited in many forms. There is still the great debate of whether leaders are born or can be taught. Honestly, you can argue both cases but to lead effectively there are tools you can learn to be a great leader. Effective leaders can inspire people to look beyond their own limitations.  I am a problem solver, a team builder, and organizer. I am a visionary thinker and am always thinking ahead. I do have a servant heart and lead that way.

HAYS COUNTY JUDGE MARK JONES

What or who inspired you to run for office?

William “Mo” Johnson, from junior high on, he was one of the most influential people in my life. I spent a lot of time with him and talking with him. He was the first Superintendent at Hays CISD and he was the only one who could of brought Buda and Kyle together.  He encouraged me to run for school board, the first office I ever ran for.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Emergency Management, roads/ transportation infrastructure, and fully funding law enforcement

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

The rapid growth in the county is the biggest challenge we face. I will work to improve infrastructure and mobility, working with developers to make sure we have high quality developments, and work to bring higher paying jobs in to the county so we have less commuters and more people who live here, work here. Making sure our law enforcement is fully funded and equipped to protect all citizens. The fentanyl crisis is a top priority and will take working with the schools and law enforcement to educate the community of the extreme dangers and to protect our children.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Both – whatever it takes to get the job done.

What are your leadership qualities?

I am experienced, I care about all people, I’m a hard worker, honest, who puts others before myself. Mo Johnson taught me what it means to be a servant leader and that you can be a leader without it being about you all while keep your Christian principles and values.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

SUSAN COOK

After many years of attending Commissioners Court, Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District meetings, and being a member of several local groups working towards responsible development and water resource protection, I came to the realization that I could best serve the interests of my neighbors, and my own land and water, by serving as a County Commissioner.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

As Commissioner, I would work to protect, preserve and defend our aquifers, creeks and streams. The People Who Live Here Now must be the primary focus when considering new development, or planning for new populations to be encouraged to move to Hays County.

Growth must pay for itself, and do no harm to our local economy, water resources, air and soil quality, social services, public safety, infrastructure or the small town way of life we enjoy here. It is our money, our water, our land and our future. The People must play a major role in in deciding how their own future unfolds.

Not all development is “progress,” some of it is simply growth, with little rhyme or reason, except someone making a profit at someone else’s expense. This is where government can provide oversight, by enacting ecologically sound incentives and guideline for how growth is managed, and enforcing them.

We have to embed limits to what can be built on top of our aquifer recharge zones into our County subdivision regulations. Subsidies/incentives for converting to rainwater catchment and/or to help people drill their wells deeper must be enabled, and fully funded. Solar should be encouraged, including both rooftop and community solar arrays.

We need to address the road issues we face today before spending millions to build roads that simply

open up new lands to vast residential development, with no regard for how those lands are being used today.

We have a healthy agricultural economic base in Hays County, and bulldozing that just to replace it with vast seas of rooftops, or yet another shopping mall may be short-sighted.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

Time and again, people have tried to do things like, for instance, embed rules that would mandate rainwater collection on all new construction, but the Developer Class, the Growth Industry, comes in with their outsized influence on our regulatory system and nixes these efforts. We have to make sure the voices of the people are given more weight in these negotiations than the businesses whose only goal is profit, and who may not really have our long-term best interests in mind.

Developers continue to push to make it easier, cheaper and more profitable to build homes and commercial buildings. But, instead, we end up with buildings that are not resilient, not “climate change ready,” do not have the ability to easily convert to rainwater and solar, utilize building practices like using better materials for construction, permeable pavers instead of pavement, less water dependent landscaping or adequate insulation to make them easier to heat and cool. We must make sure to minimize the impact development projects have on both our aquifer recharge capabilities and actual water use.

The challenge as I see it, with buildings, roads and all kinds of infrastructure, is that we have to make developers take seriously their responsibility to build better and smarter, and to bear the cost of making homes and other buildings, including the landscaping around them, more resilient. Development must require less water and energy, while still providing long lasting and reliable housing.

Development must create

WIMBERLEY ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLACE 5 LINDSEY DERINGER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

My kids inspired me to run for office. I wasn’t interested in politics until I had my daughter, almost 9 years ago. I realized how their lives were going to be affected by the decisions made by elected leaders. I became involved in politics and started supporting reasonable, kind, and transparent candidates. This time around, I felt like it was my turn to give back and serve. I hope my kids see the value in working hard to become elected as well as being an honest and service-minded candidate.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

If I am elected to the Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees, I hope to encourage unity in our community. I know that most, if not all, of our

Wimberley community has our kid’s best interests in mind. If we all believe that about each other, we can work together to mend political divides and get back to focusing on the kids. I would also like to build more support for our local teachers. Most weekdays our teachers spend more time with our children than we do. They have earned our trust and that should be evident in our decisions and discussion regarding them. One improvement that could be made regarding accessibility is WISD Board meetings being live streamed for caregivers not able to attend a 6 pm weekday meeting. A recorded version is available next day but it is hard to know who is speaking during the meetings and how each trustee votes without a video. We need to be constantly assessing our safety protocols & updating

them as needed. We also need to keep up with the most current information on school safety & know the lessons that have been learned from previous tragedies. Wimberley ISD has made several updates to their safety protocols since Uvalde happened at the end of May 2022. Some of the changes include a school resource officer at each campus, updating doors and locks, & updating visitor checkin procedures. I think that these improvements are making our schools safer for our students, however, keeping our students safe will be an ongoing process that will require the attention of the school board in the future. Finally, since the Texas legislature makes laws, it is important for them to hear about local needs from WISD community members, teacher, & the school board.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I am aware of our political divide in Wimberley and in our country. In my opinion, misinformation is a huge problem. I believe that transparency and open communication between our community and the board help to combat that. Some people view diversity and differing opinions as a negative thing. I believe that it is actually an asset. When we are able to listen and respect people who have different opinions than us, we learn and our ideas can stretch and grow. Respect also fosters kindness. If we are carbon copies of each other, things do not improve, in fact, they might actually get worse. “A diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone.” –Sundar Pichai

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I enjoy sleep but appreciate what I accomplish when I am up early. When evening rolls around, I’m ready for a quick show and bed!

What are your leadership qualities?

I believe that I am a good communicator. Through my previous work as a campaign manager and a member of several teams, I have developed strong communication skills. In these roles, I worked with a diverse group of people to communicate the mission and values of each job effectively. I am an empathetic & active listener. As a teacher and a mother, I have learned to value the opinions and ideas of others. I have learned the need for a listening space and a discussion space. I am also a servant leader. I believe that showing teammates

buildings and roads that are durable, lasting assets, not detriments, to the land they sit upon and the water beneath that land.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I have been a Night Owl my whole life.

What are your leadership qualities?

I have owned a small business for almost 40 years: hiring, training and supervising large and small projects. I know how to identify a problem, map out innovative design solutions, then with the right personnel and the right tools, find a way to overcome any challenges to getting that problem taken care of. I know how to stay within budgets, not cutting corners, even when trying to cut costs. Working with the right people, towards shared goals, is how we will solve our community’s problems as they arise.

Our community is rich with talent, good will and the resources to create and maintain our healthy, prosperous way of life in Hays County. Our County government should reflect the diversity , experience, talent and intelligence of our people.

We must protect our communities, and our natural resources, from rampant, uncontrolled growth that does not take into account the negative affects projects may have on The People Who Live Here Now. It is the land and water that nurture us, and make Hays County this great place to live, work and raise our families. We cannot risk losing that, and we must insist that people moving here, or wanting to do business here, take that as seriously as we do.

that you are willing to serve them and work alongside them builds a strong rapport. A trustworthy team will put in the hard work that is needed to do worthwhile work. Through juggling my many roles in my personal life and professional life, I have developed the ability to plan ahead and assure that all needs are met and that nothing is left behind.

MICHELLE GUTIERREZ COHEN

SUSAN COOK

MARK JONES

LINDSEY DERINGER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I am passionate about the people I serve. I have been involved in my community for 15 years in various capacities and really enjoy giving back to the place I call home. Some of those areas I volunteer for are the Buda Lions Club, where our motto is “we serve,” After talking with several people in the community who asked me to run, speaking with my husband, and having a long conversation with God, I was inspired to run for Justice of the Peace. I thought this would be another way to help my community on a different platform.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

If elected as the Justice of the Peace, my top priority that I plan to address, is to continually move the dockets of scheduled hearings and trials through the court system, effectively and efficiently. Another important focus is to make sure the citizens are heard in a timely manner. I also plan to work with the Student Resource Officers and Counselor in the school systems to address various needs and concerns. Last, I plan to be available for inquest to certify the unfortunate deaths.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and

how will you face them?

As with any job there are challenges entering into a new position.

However, my role as the new JP is to come in and learn from my team and others. I also think as a team, it’s important to assess what works and what doesn’t work and implement new processes if necessary. I also am aware of the Fentanyl crisis happening in schools. I want to join forces with Law Enforcement and School Officials to work on creating ways to combat this crisis.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am an early bird. However, if a need arises in day or night, I plan to be available. I’m not driven by the time of day or night. I’m driven by the “Need.” I am mentally prepared for this new responsibility. I am committed.

What are your leadership qualities?

It is extremely important to have good leadership qualities in the role of Justice of the Peace, as it is the closest court to the people. I believe great leaders spend time with the people they serve. So, first I think the number “one” leadership skill is to listen to the people.

Another leadership characteristics that I possess is a high work ethic, I am a hard worker and a committed to excellence, Integrity and

Teamwork. There is a quote that says,” leadership is not a solo act, but a group effort.” If elected, I will be working with law enforcement from different agencies, clerks, School Officials, Parents, and individuals from all walks of life. Lastly, I believe in leading by example. I am a servant-leader. As the President and Past-President of several organizations (Homeowner Association and Hays CISD Council of PTAs/ PTSA), I had to make tough decisions that weren’t popular. It meant making fair decisions and doing the right thing but also making sure individuals understood why I came to that conclusion. Lastly, selfdevelopment is important, and I plan to concentrate on this but developing other is also important. So that too, will be a focus. We have to be fully prepared to serve the people we are called to serve.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Serving the community has always been part of my character and family for generations. I believe if you fix one thing at a time, you will make the world much better. I’ve served on Simon MS PTA, participated in Kyle Police Citizens Academy, and advocated for my neighborhood HOA. I am proud to be from Kyle and proactive in my community, I enjoy the long-standing relationships with our local businesses. Because of my technical knowledge, experience in higher education, and community involvement I’ve decided to work at the next level to improve the future for Kyle.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

find opportunities to work with our city department and planning to build a community center for seniors and a public library for residents on the east of IH35. We also need to look for creative solutions to sustain and support our community health programs to provide resources and training programs for our residents. This will enrich our residents and provide a talented workforce for business and employers.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I’m a proud seventh generation Texan and come from a lineage of public servants who served Texans, such as Deputy Sheriffs and Texas Rangers. Serving is what we are about. They instilled and inspired me to serve others through their love for people. That is why I also chose a career that wasn’t about me, it’s about you.

I’ve served you for over 26 years as a public servant and now want to serve you as Justice of the Peace.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

To implement a Teen Court to help teens stay out of trouble and deter them from future unlawful offenses. It’s an alternative program allowing teens to make restitution through community service. It’s been highly successful in other precincts across the State. For accessibility and process improvement, I would like to make the court more accessible to you. I plan to give you information at your fingertips. Forms and guidelines will be available on our website to help

empower you before coming to court.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

This is a new era for Precinct 5. We are experiencing an explosive growth in population, traffic, crimes, and now a deadly drug crisis. As an experienced liaison, I will collaborate with law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders for solutions to address these important and serious issues. My strong leadership skills and work ethics will allow me to manage the increasing caseload and administer the court at optimum efficiency. I would like you to help me shape the Justice of the Peace office for this new era. I want to hear from you. My door will always be open to hear your ideas. Let’s shape it together!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I can be both. I love sunrises and I love seeing the stars at night.

What are your leadership qualities?

Leadership comes naturally to me. I’ve earned a reputation of being a successful leader and

commonly been sought after to lead high-level enterprise projects. Using my strong leadership skills, I’ve led many successful projects including creating a disaster preparedness and emergency continuity plan for our state’s higher education, leading process improvement plans in the legal arena, implementing strategic plans to help keep our Texas roads safer, and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas. Additionally, I managed the audit of converting over a million physical legal case files to electronic media. Another important leadership quality I have is in relationship building and the ability to bring people together and mutually respect one another.

Because of our rapid growth we have many challenges, and we must continue to focus on the infrastructure because this directly impacts every resident. Infrastructure includes repairing our old roads and making sure new roads are wide enough and have adequate sidewalks. We also need to keep updating our wastewater plant, and repair drainage pipes, and retention pumps. With increased development our water resources are under more stress and homes in potential flood areas. We must have leadership that can work with planning and zoning and developers to ensure the safety of our homes and residents aren’t compromised. A second priority is to increase business development by attracting and offering incentives to businesses that will result in good paying jobs and decrease our tax burden. Our downtown also needs to be revitalized and improved upon so that more local businesses can open in that area, we should improve the older buildings downtown and focus on creating a family-oriented environment in that area.

Our small business owners have personal relationships in our communities, and they help support our neighborhoods and schools. We should manage the budget and increase funds for small grants and low interest loans to help local business owners increase services or hire more staff. Third priority, there are undeveloped areas of our city that lack amenities for the residents such as the east of Kyle. I would

East of Kyle: We need more retail businesses and community centers, but to support this we need additional streets and wider roads with sidewalks. As far as downtown, we need to repair older buildings and fill vacant areas by attracting retail, restaurants, and small businesses. A challenge in downtown is the CB1 and CB2 zoning requirements as well as the noise from the train and limited parking. We need to work with everyone to find the best solution for the residents and our downtown. West of Kyle, we are faced with environmental areas, and large apartment buildings, so smaller homes in that area are appropriate. We must expand the manufacturing and retail business and larger developments along both sides of Interstate Highway 35. To pay for infrastructure we need to increase our sales tax revenue. By investing strategically with the right rebates or incentives we can attract more businesses and collect more sales tax revenue. We should apply for more federal and state money to help create a progrowth manufacturing and technological workforce around the IH35 corridor. We also need to partner with surrounding cities to leverage our finances to preserve resources and to help attract and grow our local economy throughout the county. By working with developers and our economic development team we can find provide for more mixed-use zoning to diversify our businesses and enrich our amenities. I would like to see us invest in more opportunity zones for startups and entrepreneurs so they can lease space that is affordable and allow them to have an office and location to help their start-up flourish along IH35. If we develop in

comprehensive manner, we will be able to have a sustainable city that will attract businesses to all parts of our community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I have two kids and a golden doodle, so it’s harder to stay up late so clearly, I am no longer a night owl.

What are your leadership qualities?

I am a leader that is open to all forms of communication and understanding and approachable to all residents. I believe in respect, hard work and education and that you must lead by example and be a voice for everyone regardless of where someone lives or comes from. As a council member you have a responsibility to be visible in the community and aware of what the resident’s needs are and what they are facing. I encourage communication, research, and town hall dialogue because that is the best way to resolve conflict and misinformation. I will be transparent and accountable to the residents and will do my best to have all the correct information before I make a vote. I believe tax dollars needs to be safely guarded and residents be informed of how money is spent and how a vote was made. I aim to be transparent and work to strengthen the relationship between our city’s departments, our residents, and local businesses. I am leader that is constantly learning and improving, sets achievable goals and will get things accomplished.

I believe our city needs new council members that listen to all residents and can move us forward together. I am asking the voters to invest in change so we can pivot to areas of our community that need more resources and development. I want to help make the best future for our city and more inclusive to help improve the quality of life for everyone.

SCAN TO FIND YOUR POLLIING PLACE

HAYS COUNTY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 5 KAREN MARSHALL

KAREN MARSHALL

SANDRA BRYANT

MIGUEL ZUNIGA

What or who inspired you to run for office

I have served 3 years as a City Council Member, (currently) as Mayor Pro Tem. I have been involved in numerous projects as a TASK Force Member, helped design various parks, and the Public Safety Center. My background in commercial construction and property management, allows me to work with local businesses, large and small. Three decades of service in the community, working with non-profits, budgets, sitting on various boards, programming, and planning events.

Continuing to serve my community of Kyle is the main reason I am running for reelection.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Public safety is priority number one, continuing to bring the new Public Safety Center online, and creating recruiting opportunities for new officers.

Infrastructure: identifying funding resources will be my top priority to help bring the road projects forward and allowing new development to contribute towards

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 3 ROBERT RIZO

infrastructure as well.

Economic development: businesses are now showing high interest in Kyle with 28 new restaurants, promoting Kyle’s Restaurant Incentive Program and increasing sales tax revenue.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

First, an extensive background in commercial construction and property management, working with large and small businesses. Providing crucial knowledge for viewing development plans and blueprints.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 NEAL BREEN

What or who inspired you to run for office?

After running a business and dealing with the city council in Austin, I decided to be the change I wanted to see in the world. Austin doesn’t care about small business. I will not let that happen to Kyle.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Kyle is growing, whether we like it or not. Austin blew it when it came to anticipating and preparing for growth. We have three primary concerns to address as we anticipate this growth.

Keeping the cost of living down for current residents. This cost-of-living increase is a result of a low supply of housing, and foreign investment absorbing the housing we DO have. I’d like to do my due diligence to encourage and invite housing developers into our city. In addition, I’d like to hike the homestead exemption to an agreeable amount – with the potential to save the average resident as much as $2,000 per year.

Encouraging small business development. The charm of any small city rests within its small business community.

I’d like to reroute tax incentives from big business to small and see the culture of our city keep

pace with its growth.

Infrastructure. We all know we need it. I believe it to be one of the key jobs of government, and we need to expand upon the roads and utilities in our city to prepare for the inevitable expansion. I believe this needs to be done as efficiently as possible, however. Writing a blank check or taking out a massive bond is all well and good, but I won’t force anyone to swallow that pill without first providing as much transparency as possible – as the government ought to do in all endeavors.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

As a freshman councilmember, I know I will face a strong learning curve as to how our city operates. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, and I will keep that in mind during my early days as councilmember. Those ears will be spared to all that will speak to them. I will be hosting a monthly forum to hear the concerns of all citizens of our city – and take them to the dais. City council is a conduit between the population and the city staff, and I harbor no delusions of grandeur that there is anything more to the job. I feel that my goals may seem lofty to some, but I can assure

you I will do all I can to accomplish them – and find compromise with my fellow councilmembers.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Both. I find I get the most work done between sunrise and lunch time, or midnight and 3 a.m.

What are your leadership qualities?

I’ve been forced into a leadership role in every facet of my life for as long as I can remember; between my fraternity, my pool teams, the bars and restaurants I’ve managed, or as a logistical assistant at my church. I try to listen more and say less. Understanding your audience is the most important aspect of leadership – and I spend a majority of my time learning as much about them as possible, in order to facilitate the most successful and agreeable result.

Three decades of service in the community, working with non-profits budgets, sitting on boards, assisting with programs, planning events, and organizing personnel.

Finally, three years as a City Council Member and a year as Mayor Pro Tem obtain crucial knowledge of the job. I have been involved in numerous projects as a TASK Force Member. I helped build and design various parks (Mary Kyle Hartson Park, Hero’s Memorial Park, soon-to-be complete La Verde Park) and the Kyle Public Safety Building.

Our rapid growth

has created many infrastructure challenges; my experience will help bringing much needed road improvements to fruition.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I start my day at 5:30 a.m. and in the past three years, city council meetings can last till midnight or 3 a.m. Night Owl/morning.

What are your leadership qualities?

In the past three decades, I have served in many leadership roles, several nonprofits, church boards, Youth sports

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 BEAR HEISER

What or who inspired you to run for office?

My wife Erin, my kids, Charlotte and Nolan, and members of the community have been the biggest inspirations to me on this journey. I’ve spent over 40 hours knocking on doors all over Kyle in the last seven weeks, and I’ve met so many amazing people who have felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable and share their struggles, their hopes and their dreams for our great city. People want to believe that local government can work for them, and I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that happens.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

When accelerated growth is taking place, it’s hard not to see everything as a priority - but it’s a balance. I think it’s important that we do everything we can to preserve Kyle’s unique culture and community, proactively plan for the projected future growth that is happening, while ensuring that Kyle is an affordable place to live and raise a family.

Our community is growing and we must adequately prepare for that growth while ensuring that we do not pass on the

financial burden to the people in Kyle who already pay more than fair share in property taxes. Right now, Kyle residents are feeling the pain that comes with growth, and we, as a city, need to do everything in our power to make this transition more tolerable for everybody.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

I will work with county, state and federal elected and appointed officials to secure funds that address the infrastructure gap in Kyle - transportation (road availability, road quality and traffic issues), water quality and availability.

I will find ways to grow our local economy by promoting existing small businesses while lowering the barrier to entry for new small businesses to take shape. This is especially relevant right now in Kyle due to an influx of chains moving in.

I will stress the importance of making Kyle more family friendly - which includes having more green spaces, adding more sidewalks while improving the ones we already have and providing parents more places for their kids to learn and play (how does Kyle not have a Public Library on the east side of Interstate Highway

35?).

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

There always will be challenges in life, no matter what you’re doing. As long as there’s collaboration between council members, there’s no challenge we can’t get past for the betterment of the community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? With two young kids (7 and 5), it really depends on the day.

What are your leadership qualities?

People don’t want to be led; they want to be represented. People want to be heard. People want to be empowered. People want to be supported. That, I believe, is the best way I can serve the people of Kyle.

What or who inspired you to run for office?

Having the desire to serve is just an inherent part of my nature.  Doing for others is simply part of what my heart is made of.  That being said, however, I’ve always felt like something has to be fundamentally wrong with a person if they WANT to run for office.  I’ve been a part of several campaigns over the years, and I know how grueling they can be.  When Dex’s seat came open, I was with my best friend about to leave town for a 3 day weekend.  We were discussing who would be good for that spot.  He asked why I don’t run, and I was basically “voluntold” from there.  It was time for me to give back to the city that has given me so much for so many years, and I’ve been 100% committed ever since.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

It’s no secret that Kyle has seen a significant level of unanticipated growth recently.  With that has come both increases in tax revenue and demands on our infrastructure.

We have to make sure we are reinvesting in our roadways, in the most

financially responsible and transparent way possible.

We work too hard for these tax dollars to have them wasted.  We also need to do more to bring retail businesses to Kyle.  It’s imperative that we increase sales tax revenue so that we aren’t solely reliant on property taxes.  That way we can afford to give relief to homeowners, preventing them from getting taxed out of their homes.  I want to create a city environment where we can live, work, and play; and afford to stay in for a long long time.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

I’m a very goal-oriented person, and from what I’ve seen, government bureaucracy is going to be very frustrating.  I’m the only candidate running for City Council that has attended every meeting since filing, and in these meetings, I’ve learned how slowly things can progress.  It’s going to take some patience on my part to work at the pace that government moves.  Agenda items like stop lights at Bunton Creek and Lehman, that sound like no-brainers, are delayed over duplicitous surveys and legal red tape.  Meanwhile, traffic

right by the school has a heightened level of danger.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am definitely more of a night owl.  That morning coffee is a lifesaver!

What are your leadership qualities?

As I said earlier, I’m a very goal-oriented individual. I do whatever it takes to achieve results.  Quite often, that requires in depth discussions, negotiations, and effective compromise.  I have an innate ability to view a problem from others’ perspective and develop a solution that is mutually beneficial. Having the ability to have empathy and compassion for others, and resolving their needs, is one of the highest levels of leadership.

SCAN TO FIND YOUR POLLIING PLACE

ROBERT RIZO coach, PTA, Clean Air Coalition vice chair, Hays County Food Bank board of directors, three years as a council member and currently as mayor pro tem.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1 MARC MCKINNEY

NEAL BREEN

MARC MCKINNEY

BEAR HEISER

TUPIKOV

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I was blessed with a daughter 2.5 years ago. She is the person that inspired me to run for city council. I want to raise my daughter in a city that is family focused and loves her town just as much as I do. Kyle is a wonderful place to live, I want to make sure that it continues to be so lovely. I am not a political person. I just want to improve our city for present and future generations.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

Kyle was named one of the fastest growing towns by census in 2020. We have seen that growth in our neighborhoods, schools and community amenities. Kyle is not slowing down. We need to make sure to provide our growing city with a place that improves the quality of life. This includes growing our community amenities- such as parks, playgrounds, spaces for families, public and private businesses, family dining establishments and so much more.

With the increase of people in our city, there is an increase of cars. Our roads are currently not equipped to accommodate that. We really need to revisit and reevaluate the infrastructure goals and focus on traffic flow (including maintenance), road access and location of buildings. With the growth, we have to make sure the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) are in place to continue smooth operation of our city.

One of the tough goals that is easier said than done is to reduce the burden of property tax for residences. We have a growing community with schools being built almost every other year. This goal would include the involvement of businesses, school district, developments and residents to sit down and complete an itemized budget audit to see big picture and reevaluate. Another solution is to bring in more businesses to increase the revenue

from sales tax. This would both provide residents with amenities and release the burden of property tax.

Continue to take care of our seniors in Kyle by staying active with KASZ (Kyle Area Senior Zone).

KASZ has been working hard reaching out to the community to raise money for a new establishment on the east side of I35.

Supporting them will benefit everyone in the community and provide the appropriate place to gather.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

One of the biggest challenges I anticipate is that Kyle’s infrastructure won’t be able to keep with the growing population of the city. This leads to another challenge that I believe we’ll have to face.

Getting something done takes so much time and red tape. I understand the necessity of checks and balances so I hesitate to propose sweeping change. Instead, it would be more constructive to establish good relationships with the people involved.

I have also observed the different priorities people have during different seasons of their lives.

Homeowners worry about property taxes.

Parents worry about their children’s education.

Teenagers and young adults seek entertainment and job opportunities.

Business owners seek greater opportunities.

Balancing the needs of the city and prioritizing one above the other will certainly prove to be an interesting challenge.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am actually both! I love waking up early and getting a head start to my day but I also stay up pretty late. My parents used to tell me to dream big but to also get up and go do something about it!

What are your leadership qualities?

With the many hats that I have worn in my lifestudent, wife, mom, leader, community member, teacher, researcher, professional - I have had many opportunities to learn and develop skills that makes me a great

addition to the city council. Some of the qualifications and skills that qualify me for this position include:

With my training in math and having an analytical mind, I love looking at data, budgets and making decisions based on facts.

Communication: Being able to communicate and listen to community members and communicating it to the appropriate personnel. I believe in professional transparency. That means, being open about what is going on and communicating appropriate information quickly and clearly.

Coordinating events and festivals- being involved in a local community church, I have had the opportunity to organize and run events for the community. Knowing all the components of creating and effectively running an event will benefit the city by having someone look out for the details and how to improve social occasions.

Teamwork: I have worked in many different types of teams. Working with all different types of people, I have learned the importance of collaboratively working together to achieve a common goal.

Leadership: I have had many opportunities in my careers where I had to lead individuals to help the company/individuals grow and succeed. With that experience, I have learned the importance of motivating, advocating, problem solving and navigating personal to well-rounded success.

KYLE CITY COUNCIL,

NICK MADSEN

What or who inspired you to run for office?

I was inspired to run for office because I didn’t see anyone else running that really encapsulated my values and priorities for Kyle. Too many folks are trying to change Kyle to be more like Austin. I want to Kyle to keep its identity as a safe and traditional hometown as it grows.

What are some key issues that you are hoping to address if you are elected to office?

My platform has four cornerstones that I think speak to the key issues that we will face in the coming years. The first of these is managed growth. Kyle is going to grow no matter our desire, however the way that we grow will dictate the type of city that Kye turns into.  Limiting tax-incentives, and allowing goods and services to compete in a free market will make sure that the residents of Kyle are surrounded by businesses that benefit them. It will allow small and medium sized business to compete alongside box-stores and chains. Secondly, we need to maintain fiscal responsibility and suspend tax increases. Increases in assumed home prices have drastically risen the amount that Texans pay in taxes and the city should do what it can to not overburden residents. Next, we need to make sure that we are being proactive and planning for our population growth in regards to transportation infrastructure. Specifically, we need to make sure our roadways are connected and that we pre-plan widening. Finally, we need to support our first-

responders to make sure that Kyle doesn’t succumb to spillover crime and stays a safe place to raise a family.

What challenges do you anticipate in this role and how will you face them?

There will certainly be a myriad of challenges facing the Kyle City Council in the coming years. These challenges will come from internal sources and external sources. Internally, Kyle is understaffed at present, which is affecting the city from efficiently managing itself. I plan on working to find qualified candidates to fill these roles so that Kyle will have the dayto-day management it needs. Furthermore, this summer has shown us that water management, treatment, and sourcing are all issues that need to be addressed with forethought so that we do not end up in a crisis in a few years. Externally, there will be pressure on the council from an unending amount of development projects. It will be up to those that have been elected to ensure that development proceeds in a way that benefits businesses and residents alike and that Kyle maintains its hometown appeal. Walkways, parks, green spaces, and mixeduse areas should all be used as tools to create a vibrant and appealing city that maintains its sense of community.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I think I would rather be a night owl, but my children have definitely turned me into a morning person. What are your leadership qualities?

NICK MADSEN

I have many leadership qualities that have been achieved through decades of hard work and experience. As an officer in the U.S. Army, I had the opportunity to go through extensive training in how to lead from the front and work with your fellow soldiers to accomplish difficult goals. I was able to put into practice all of that training when I deployed to Iraq for 15 months in 2008. During my deployment, I was responsible for hundreds of combatlogistics patrols that put my leadership skills to the test. Since coming back stateside, I have continued to take leadership roles in my employment, my community, and my city. As a small-business owner and as an attorney, I lead my team on a daily basis to help folks in central Texas. As a volunteer, I help my church and various nonprofit programs. I do this because I know that you can’t be a leader if you won’t do what you expect others to do. Finally, I work as a member of the board of my neighborhood’s homeowner’s association. I do this, because I certainly wouldn’t trust anyone to help run a city if they weren’t willing to help with their own community.

MARINA TUPIKOV

SAMPLE BALLOT