What are the three main reasons you are running for this office? Do you see any potential conflicts of interest?

1.  The Woodlands needs Board members who will put residents first and will be outspoken advocates on their behalf and careful stewards of their tax dollars.  During my first term, I cut the tax rate from 29.4 cents to 23 cents per $100 valuation – a 22% reduction.  I have a proven record of effective advocacy on matters of importance to our residents, and I want to continue that work so that The Woodlands remains an ideal place to live, work, play, and learn.

2.  I place paramount importance on our safety, having witnessed first-hand how quickly the character of a community can change if insufficient attention and resources are devoted to public safety. We need Board members who recognize the importance of public safety, and I will continue to be vigilant on this issue.

3.  We must prepare for our future incorporation.  Incorporation is not cost-free, as it involves taking over services currently provided by the county, and so we should begin the process of reserving funds for future expenses associated with incorporation so we can minimize, or even eliminate, the anticipated tax rate increase so our residents will be more likely to support incorporation.

I have no conflicts of interest.  My family’s livelihood is in no way impacted by pleasing County politicians or politically connected real estate developers, and I have a proven record of standing up for residents when the interests of residents are at odds with the interests of the politically well-connected.

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

1.  I have a proven record of putting residents first and advocating for residents in the face of opposition from County politicians and politically connected real estate developers.

2.  I have extensive experience managing budgets and personnel and regularly administering the legal aspects of projects with a value far in excess of the Township’s $132 million budget, and therefore I have the skills necessary to be an effective and careful steward of our taxpayer’s dollars.  I also have a proven record of challenging undisciplined spending.  In today’s uncertain economic climate, it is crucial that great care is taken with public funds.

3.  I place paramount importance on our safety, having witnessed first-hand how quickly the character of a community can change if insufficient attention and resources are devoted to public safety. We need Board members who recognize the importance of public safety and will work to ensure our community remains a safe place.

What three changes would you like to see implemented by the Township?

1.   The Woodlands should more aggressively prepare for our future incorporation.  Specifically, we should reserve funds for future expenses associated with incorporation so we can minimize, or even eliminate, the anticipated tax rate increase so our residents will be more likely to support incorporation.  Additionally, we should develop a plan for how best to utilize the property recently purchased for future City of The Woodlands infrastructure, and a plan for use or transition out of the current Township offices.

2.   The Township should replace the unprofitable (costing The Woodlands $120,000/year) and underwhelming water taxis with kayak or paddle boat rentals.

3.   The Township should stop consideration of expensive, experimental transit options.  Specifically, we should reject the Town Center-specific fare-free bus service, which costs more than $1 million/year (60% to be paid for by entirely by The Woodlands), and disproportionally benefits Town Center and those who own real estate there.   Likewise, we should reject the Town Center transit center, which costs $7 million (49% to be paid for entirely by The Woodlands) that provides only 278 new parking spots (adjacent to a parking garage that is often empty) and is designed to serve this new Town Center bus service.  With the mall poised to build additional parking facilities, it is not prudent for us to spend millions of dollars on a Transit Center in today’s uncertain economic climate. 

List all civic, political or union organizations or individuals to whom you have contributed time or money in the last five years.

I’ve listed candidates or groups to whom I recall giving at least $100 at any one time.

2015 – Jim Napolitano

2014 – Melanie Bush

2014 – Gordy Bunch for State Senate

2014 – Bruce Tough for State Representative

2013 – John McMullan (loans to campaign)

2013 – Ling Ling Chang for California State Assembly

2013 – Liberty Institute  

2012 – James Noack

2012 – Gordy Bunch for Township  

2011 and 2012 – Senator Ted Cruz

2011 – 2013 – Maverick PAC

2011 – Governor Tim Pawlenty

2009 – present – The Irish Society of Houston

Are you now or have you ever done business with any township and/or county official?

No.

Are any of your family members employed by or working under contract to either The Woodlands Township or Montgomery County?

No.

List all individuals/groups you have represented or lobbied for before any governmental entity during the past five years.

None.

Have you ever been arrested? Ever had any tax liens? If so, start & resolution dates?

No and No.

The township budget funds all reserves 100% yearly. Should any surplus be returned to the residents or retained in a rainy day fund?

The Township should fully fund its operating reserve and capital reserve accounts.  Funds in the transportation reserve account that are designed for expensive, experimental transit options that disproportionally benefit Town Center and those who own real estate there should be returned to residents. 

Should the township be funding non-profit organization events such as Interfaith luncheons, senior pick-up services, Education for tomorrow luncheons, etc...with tax dollars.

It is acceptable for the Township to provide some targeted funding for those residents who cannot drive themselves.  In today’s uncertain economic climate, The Township should more closely scrutinize all of its expenditures. 

Do you consider the water taxi service an amenity in The Woodlands? If so what level of funding should be paid by taxpayer dollars?

The water taxis are unprofitable (costing The Woodlands $120,000/year) and underwhelming, and the program should be terminated unless a private business wishes to operate the water taxis.  Alternatively, The Township should replace the water taxis with kayak or paddle boat rentals.

Should the economic development reserve fund serve as a general fund, to go to multiple projects such as ice-rinks, museums, buildings, street repairs etc. or should it be a project specific only account?

The economic development reserve fund should be a reserve fund to pursue time-sensitive projects.

What is the standard the "Township" should set on general obligation debt?

Debt is appropriate for long-term capital assets and the duration of debt should be equal to or less than the expected life of the long-term capital asset.

Is the current amount of "county" debt a good or bad thing and why?

The County debt load is too high. 

Woodlands founder George Mitchell was arguably the godfather of "sustainable" communities and funded international meetings here to that end. What does that mean to you?

Mr. Mitchell developed The Woodlands while preserving the forested environment.  I hope future residents of The Woodlands will also be able to enjoy our forested environment.  Residents pay a premium to live in The Woodlands, and they rightfully expect that the character of The Woodlands will be preserved in a consistent manner throughout the community.  Accordingly, I fully supported Matthew Burton’s successful efforts to alter the Development Company’s clear cutting practices in The Woodlands.

What are the 2 most pressing mobility issues in The Woodlands and what is your preferred solution to each?

Roads in The Woodlands are constructed, owned and maintained by entities other than The Woodlands Township.  The Township Board needs to apply political pressure to those other governmental entities so The Woodlands receives the funds needed for congestion relief projects and is not burdened by projects that make our traffic worse like the misguided Woodlands Parkway extension.  Specifically, the Township Board should apply pressure to ensure:

1.  Construction of additional two lane bridges on Kuykendahl and Gosling over Spring Creek.  The current Kuykendahl and Gosling bridges (with only one lane each way) cause congestion and are safety hazards – especially at night. 

2.  Expand lanes and improve intersections on 242.

Did you take a public position on the May 9, 2015 Road Bond, and if so, what was it? And in a few sentences, explain why.

Yes, I publicly opposed the May Road Bond at Township Board meetings, Village Association meetings and in the below linked letter to the editor because the bond contained the Woodlands Parkway extension and was otherwise flawed.  Specifically, I opposed the Woodlands Parkway extension because it would use taxpayer money to make traffic worse for residents of The Woodlands, while subsidizing politically connected real estate developers.  A link to my letter to the editor re the flawed May 2015 road bond is below: 

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/opinion/road-bond-not-us-vs-them-issue/article_51fde3c8-b8a4-5133-a244-23cab6ead7a7.html

Explain what a RUD is and it's use, if any, to the community of The Woodlands. Also address any negatives.

The Woodlands RUD is a special taxing district with virtually no voters that levies a tax on properties within its carefully drawn boundaries to build roads within The Woodlands.  The positive aspect of the RUD is that roads have been built within The Woodlands.  The negative aspect is that the RUD is anti-democratic.

Should Township directors serve at large or represent specific villages (districts)?

I would support geographical, rather than at large, representation or a mix of geographic and at large representation. 

Are you active with any Tea Party or conservative grassroots organization? If so, list which, how long and what capacity? If not, what's your opinion of Tea Party groups here as to their effectiveness?

I occasionally attend and have on 2 or 3 occasions spoken at the Texas Patriots PAC.

Do you think The Woodlands should become a city or remain unincorporated? Why?

I support incorporation so that The Woodlands is not eventually annexed by Houston, and to provide greater local control within our boundaries. Of course, the harder question is when to incorporate. Before we incorporate, we must prepare. A first step (which I supported) was the Township contracting to purchase land for future City of The Woodlands infrastructure. However, merely buying land for future government buildings is not enough. Incorporation is not cost-free, as it involves taking over services currently provided by the county, and so we should begin the process of reserving funds for future expenses associated with incorporation. It is currently anticipated that incorporating will result in an increase in The Woodlands portion of our property taxes. By reserving funds in advance, we can minimize, or even eliminate, the anticipated tax rate increase so our residents will be more likely to support incorporation.

In this role, you'll be representing both the community & businesses. In the event of a conflict with the Woodlands Development corporation how would handling this situation?

As demonstrated by my successful public opposition to the flawed May 2015 road bond that included the Woodlands Parkway extension (where I was joined by Peggy Hausman, Gordy Bunch, Laura Fillault, among others, and nearly 86% of The Woodlands’ voters), and my support of Matthew Burton’s successful effort to alter the Development Company’s clear cutting practices, I have a proven record of putting residents first.