US Vote Smart

Candidate Path

Submitted by john wertz on 2019-10-19 02:38:19

Pros

Resident of The Woodlands for 20 years.
Broad community awareness through work experience with the Conroe Courier. His management of the Courier and area papers was impressive in keeping the doors open in a dying industry.
Strong position for transparency, integrity & openness.
Strong position on not raising tax rates & supporting use of the Effective Tax Rate.
He knows what is in the Reserve Fund & what the "best practice" guidelines are. He favors returning the overage to the residents, possibly by paying down indebtedness.
He's well known by elected officials and many others.
Opposed to a rush to incorporation(3:00 min). He believes there's enough information out there now & that waiting for the final report isn't necessary. He says the costs outweigh the benefits, but is in favor of allowing the residents to vote on it, as long as all the info is out there. Like other candidates, he knows the studies should be finalized and presented at the December meeting, just on the heels of the election.
Endorsed by Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, Former County Judge Alan Sadler, Tresurer Melanie Bush and Montgomery County Tax Assessor-Collector Tammy McRae.

Cons

Huge conflict of interest as a paid employee of Pct. 3, of who's interest w/the Township could be at odds up to 50% of the time, according to several Township Board Directors.
As for him being in conflict position, he said there are no contracts between Pct. 3 and The Woodlands(26:00 min). He may be unwilling to recuse himself.
Did not attend any of the Special Planning meetings on incorporation, but watched some of the videos.
Seemed confused regarding Law Enforcement (4:00 min), saying if The Woodlands incorporated, they'd be paying double for their own police force, as well as the current contracted 25 officers (though the latter wouldn't be needed). The sheriff deputies are, by statute, mandated to service all of the county anyway.
He also said the County Attorney conveyed to him that Law Enforcement vehicles were paid for by the county and in the county's name(5:00 min) (when if fact The Woodlands paid for them but keep them in the counties name for lower insurance rate purposes).
Said cost increases would come in the form of road costs (maintenance). The Woodlands is taking over street scape (instead of Howard Hughes) - but The Woodlands would have to take over that anyway(6:50 min).
(21:00 min) He thinks Commissioners Court has done a good job at HGAC (though Riley failed to show 9 of 11 times and only secured $24 million, leaving between $80 million and $100 million on the table for other counties, like Liberty County, to secure).