Why are you running for this position?  What are the three main attributes that make you the most qualified for this position?

I'm seeking re-election as City Councilman to serve our residents, businesses, visitors, and staff in order to "KEEP SHENANDOAH STRONG!" Recently Shenandoah was identified as 1 of the top 10 places to live around the Houston Metro area (something all of us that call Shenandoah home already knew). During the 2018 Annual Financial Report presentation the auditor, Brooks Watson & Co., reported the state of Shenandoah is "Very Strong." Shenandoah Police Chief Shaw has commented that "this council has stepped up to provide the policing tools needed for our department to stand strong and lower crime within our community." According to a recent employee survey city employees are happier and more productive in their jobs under the leadership of our current City Administrator, Kathie Reyer. To quote our previous City Administrator, Greg Smith, "Ted Fletcher is the most professional City Councilman I have ever worked with." As the city approaches build out, we need strong visionary, problem solving, straight forward, commonsense, value's based leadership that is willing to serve and put our residents first. Over the the last 2 years as a City Councilman, my leadership experience and voting record is proof that I am the candidate needed to "Keep Shenandoah Strong."

The three main attributes that make me the most qualified person for this position are 1.) I understand who hired me and who I work for,,, Its the citizens of Shenandoah! Not outside special interest groups, businesses, vendors, or even staff. In order to keep a residents first mindset, every decision I make starts with how will this benefit and improve the lifestyles our residents; 2.) There are several skills needed to successfully do this position. I have aquired many of these skills through hands-on experience. I've had experience in the start-up and management of multi-million dollar businesses. I'm experienced in day-to-day operations, regulatory compliance, selecting, hiring, and training qualified personnel, developing collateral support and creating innovative resources. I understand the importance of budgets, accountability, and transparency. I have had the experience of losing a viable business as well, and understand how to lead and work through hardships when adversity strikes. I have experience in turning failing operations around into thriving, profitable ones, and I am committed to bring this same business acumen to the community to help solve the city’s challenges; 3) And finally, I'm a straight forward, commonsense oriented, visionary, open minded, problem solving, "what you see is what you get," strong, values based leader with 30 years experience. 

What are the 3 largest challenges currently facing this position/office and your road map to address them?

I believe the 3 greatest challenges currently facing our city are 1.) growth, infrastructure, and re-development; 2.) thoroughfare and mobility; and 3.)public safety and emergency services. 

As the City approaches built out status in the next 3-5 years, now is the time to focus on these issues. We will need to continue to develop relationships and strategic partners to accomplish this task. Shenandoah is unique in that we border 3 different commissioner districts (2, 3, & 4) and I-45. Thus making a mobility thoroughfare plan extremely difficult to coordinate. Its not enough to simply have a plan, but more so implementing the plan to become  a reality. This takes strategic planning and coordination.

There are many new development projects through out the city that will require infrastructure. The area on the south bound feeder road from Wellman Road to Research Forest needs to be re-developed and updated but currently is limited by the City's Integrated Development Code. There are 1410 units scheduled for proposed development on the east side of the freeway which will add approximately 2,115 new citizens to our city's population. There's another 420 residences on the west side adding approximately 630 citizens. In addition to multiple hotels, restaurants, and retail shops that will increase the service demands of our City staff and municiple services that will need reach over 50,000 people a day. Our existing public safety and emergency services will be hard pressed to meet those demands. It is important to begin the planning process now to consider an Emergency Services District to help meet the demands of our growing community.

As most of the solutions needed to meet the growing demands of our City take 3-5 years to implement, we are entering the most critical time in our City's history. Now more than ever is the time to have a proven leadership that can focus on building the future, rather than trying to re-build the past.

How can the operation of your city government be made more efficient and cost effective?

I believe we have taken the most critical steps during the last 2 years to make our CIty government more efficient and cost effective. We reduced the cost of general government by 20,5%, more than any other city government in the history of the City, and at the same time have increased the efficiency of every department. While I do believe in the concept of "constant never ending improvement," we have moved the city in the right direction and have set the culture for years to come. 

What's your interpretation of the "Separation of Church and State"?

I believe that "Separation of Church and State" was intended to protect our religious freedoms from government interference. It was designed to create a wall between the government and the sovereign rights of an individual to serve God in the way they choose to. Unfortunately, in today's political environment the first amendment is now being used to protect government from religous interference and remove crosses, the ten commandments, and prayer from public buildings and gatherings under the same phrase rather than protect their existence. I think our forefathers would be terribly grieved by the restrictions placed on religion in government today.

What is your primary resource to help you make difficult decisions as it relates to public policy?

As a Christian, I first  rely on my faith through prayer and supplication in Christ Jesus, the opinions of my constituency, council of others, and the sovereign rights granted to all men under the Constitution of the United States of America to help make difficult decisions as it relates to public policy.

Will you vote to increase or reduce the annual city budget?  Why?  What changes will you propose in your city’s budget?  Why?

I do not favor increasing the annual budget for operations. However, as the city's population, business development, and municipal services continue to increase marketedly the need for public safety and additional staffing needed to meet the demands will become more pronounced. As the city's revenues increase the budget should also increase proportionally in meeting these needs. 

Currently the City of Shenandoah uses a zero line item budget system. Budget requests are made by the head of each department and are presented to the City Administrator and Mayor. Department heads are encouraged to eliminate waste and reduce their budget to needed items only for operations. The City has implemented an equipment replacement fund by department based on the life expectancy of specified equipment and usage. Last year the Finance Director and City Council changed the budget workshop format to allow more transparency in the process of creating the city's budget. Prior to budget workshop, coucil meets to discuss requested budget items for a minimum of 3 consecutive open sessions with public comment before moving into budget workshop. Once a balanced budget is created through the budget workshop the proposed budget is published. Council then provides two additional opportunities for public comment to consider any changes. Then council votes to approve the property tax rate.

I approve of the improvements made within the current budget process to promote additional transparency, but also remain open to suggestions of improvement as well.

What is the current budget surplus and should any of it be returned to the residents, pay down debt or retained in a rainy day fund and if so, how much and why?

The city's 2017-18 budget surplus was $2,100,533.69 (without capital). Part of these funds were used to offset the ever increasing appraisal property tax system by providing free trash service to residents, part of the surplus was used to fund our water well, and part of these funds were used to increase our rainy day fund. As the city reaches its goal for the rainy day fund I believe we need to focus on paying down our debt, lowering taxes, and improving our remaining green spaces for quaility resident living.

Should salaried employees be paid overtime?  And if so, should their be a limit and how much?

No I do not believe salaried employees should be paid overtime.

However, the city has implemented a flex-time program for salaried employees that work overtime. Based on the number of hours you work overtime, you are then eligible to use these hours to request paid time off (1 to 1 ratio) to adjust for the extra time spent. 

What is the Sales Tax Rate for the City in which you're running?  Property Tax rate?  How much of the revenue is derived from each? Do you think it would be a good idea to broaden either or both of them to increase revenues?

The sales tax rate is 8.25%, of which the City of Shenandoah receives 1.5% and the MDD recieves 0.5%.

Currently the property tax rate in Shenandoah is 2.0943. of which the City of Shenandoah receives 0.1799.

The city generated $6,732,269 in sales tax revenues, and $1,995,541 from property taxes.

I am not in favor of increasing taxation of any kind!

What is city's bond rating?  What is the current debt load and is it too high? Please describe how you will determine the proper debt load.

Shenandoah's bond rating is AA+.

Current outstanding debt load is $18,995,000. Of which $16,060,500 is a tax support debt obligation, and $2,934,500 is a revenue supported obligation. The City's total combined asset position was $64,771,308 as of September 30, 2018. The debt load represents 29.32% of the City's total assets and 123.6% of the City's annual revenues. The long term debt was approved by residents for infrastructure improvements to streets and storm drainage, and public utilities and fire department building construction.

The City is in a very strong revenue-to-debt position. I do not support increasing property taxes to support a higher debt load.

Do you support or oppose creation of Improvement Districts and Economic Development Districts? Why or why not?

I oppose Improvement Districts and Economic Development Districts that create politcal subdivisions that obligate the whole municipality, but only a few receive the special benefits of the improvements.

However, I do support Public Improvement Districts (PID) created by private land owners for the purposes of creating public improvements and services within a designated area that has an assessment levied to the designated area for the repayment such improvements. The objective of this type of a PID is to provide services and/or improvements without the obligation or financial support of the community as a whole. Property assessments are used rather than property taxes to repay the debt obligation. The financial obligation remains attached to the property and not the municipality.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of Economic Development Partnerships?

This question is not applicable or relevant in the City of Shenandaoh, as we only have 9 acres before we are built out. The remaining 9 acres is not contiguous and therefore an EDD would not ever be utilized as a plan for economic development within the City,

Have you and/or any of your family members been employed by or working under contract to any taxing entity in your jurisdiction?

NO

Are you now or have you ever done business with the city and/or any other taxing entity? If so, what was the nature of that relationship?

NO

List Civic, Political or union organization or individuals to whom you have contributed time or money (five years).

President Trump, Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton, Senator Cruz, Congressman Brady, State Representative Toth, State Representative Creighton, Montgomery County Judge Keough, Montgomery County Commissioner Riley, Montgomery County Treasurer Bush, Montgomery County Clerk Miller, Shenandoah Mayor Wheeler,  Shenandoah Councilman Beavers, Shenandoah Councilman Bradt, Texas State Republican Party, Montgomery County Republican Party, Tea Party, Texas Republican Voters PAC, Rob Harmon - Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 2 Race, Brian Dawson Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 2 Race

Have you ever been convicted as result of arrest? Ever had any tax liens? If so, give start & resolution dates?

I have never been convicted of a crime.

I don’t know why but sometimes bad things happen to good people, and that’s the case in this unfortunate situation that occurred in our lives. In 2010, we owned a restoration and construction business. Our company helped people rebuild after a fire, flood, or a devastating storm such as a hurricane. We had 4 offices and 152 employees in 3 states. We were looking to expand into another state and decided to join forces with an existing company. During the first 6 months business was booming. We generated over $4 million in gross revenues. However, things quickly changed in month eight. Our joint venture partner cleared out the bank accounts of over $450,000 and left us owing $252,647 to creditors. This created a huge financial burden on our business. Our family went months without a paycheck. We did everything we could to recover from this situation. We had exhausted all our savings and retirement, and our worst fear became a reality.

We filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in 2012 to try and reorganize our debt structure and repay the creditors we owed, but in the end, we lost everything. Our home, our cars, and our business. We were faced with making a lot of hard choices. The toughest was what to do with our home. We owned 2 properties in Montgomery county, our home and our office. After much prayer and counsel, we decided to return our home to the lender and signed the deed back in lieu of foreclosure. Since this was the largest debt we owed, our attorney advised us to restructure and re-file our bankruptcy.

We moved our family into our business property, which at the time was right in the middle of being remodeled into a residential care home. Of course, being out of money we did most of the work ourselves. I would work a job during the day and work on the property at night and weekends. It took longer to complete than we had hoped. I realized that I needed help and was fortunate that my friend shared the same vision we had regarding helping seniors that are afflicted with Alzheimer’s and other age-related dementias. He gave us the money we needed to finish the project, and we opened our first memory care property in April 2013.

We weren’t out of the woods yet as we still owed money to the IRS. We worked diligently to repay the taxes we owe and have a work out agreement to repay them. When we disbuted the amount owed was missing payments that should have been applied through the BK the IRS immediately hit us with a lien in 2016. We had scheduled to have it repaid in 2017, but once again tragedy hit. Hurricane Harvey flooded our second memory care property within 4 months of opening in April 2017. We were not covered by flood insurance and were faced with $232,000 in repairs. I don’t understand why these things happen, but I do know unfortunate circumstances happen to us all. The one thing I've learned through it all is, Its not what happens to us, but rather how we handle it that determines who we become.

Please describe what measures you propose to improve transparency and accountability to the public.

During the last 2 years we have worked hard to accomplish many changes to make the governing process more transparent such as:

• Broadcast all City Council Meetings and workshops
• Create new budget workshop procedures
• Establish an audit committee
• Post more raw data, including check registers

I believe transparency is critical for effective oversight and accountability in governing. We need to continue to do everything we can to become more transparent. We need to redevelop our website so we can post more in a time effecient manner. We need to complete the state requirements for the Transparency Star program and increase our Star Awards. We also need to develop an ethics and code of values policy and training requiremnt for newly elected officials and employees.

List all governmental entities you've done business with during the past five years

NONE

Please explain why you do or do not support the government providing financial benefits to non-citizens.

I do not support the government providing financial benefits such as food stamps, housing assistance, medical expenses, and other welfare programs to non-citizens. I believe it is important for each person to immigrate to America responsibly. Financial benefits should only be provided to US citizens, and only for a period of time to help someone get back on their feet after a set-back, such as a loss of a job. Every citizen needs to have the opportunity to make a contribution in their work and service to others.

Would you vote in favor of spousal benefits for same-sex partners of State, County and City employees? Please explain your reasons.

I personally am opposed to same sex marriage and same sex partner benefits. I believe the term "marriage" is a biblical term and is defined as a union between a man and a woman, and thus the same term should not be used to define a union between same sex partners. I do not believe however, that any one should ever be discriminated against regardless of personal choice.

Since this question has been answered by the supreme court, and if re-elected, I would uphold the law of the land, and protect each individual's sovereign right under the constitution with respect to life, liberty, property and pursuit of happiness.

Do you own property in Montgomery County?  Do you own or operate a business in Montgomery County?

Yes. I do own and operate a business in Montgomery County that owns 2 properties. One located in Spring off of I-45 and Rayford Road, and the other located in Conroe off of I-45 and Tamina Road.

Should City employees living out of the city and/or county take home city vehicles?  Why or why not?

I do not believe that City employees should take home City vehicles. This creates unnecessary liabilty and added financial cost to the city. However, I do aggree that city employees should be re-imbursed for mileage while using their personal vehicles for CIty business. 

Are you a member of ANY Chamber of Commerce group? Are you aware of and/or have you attended or plan to attend Leadership Montgomery County?

Yes, I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce. No I was not aware of nor have I attended the Leadership Montgomery County program. However, since discovering it's existence through this question, I can see the benefits and plan to enroll in the next session.