What makes you qualified for this office?  Name three main reasons you believe you’re the best candidate for this position?

1. I bring over 15 years of water utility board experience, having served as President of Cy-Champ PUD and as a board member on several MUD boards in Harris County prior to moving to MoCo. I am familiar with water issues and bring significant experience to this role.

2. I have no personal or professional ties to the LSGCD. I have over 30 years of business experience and leadership in the Networking and Telecommunications industries, where I held various executive positions with multinational companies such as Brocade Communications, Foundry Networks, Nortel Networks and Cabletron Systems. None of these positions had any affiliation to LSGCD or its affiliates. I come to the board as an independent, focused voice to represent all citizens of MoCo.

3.I am a fiscal conservative and my campaign is based upon the following issues: 1). Bringing transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility to the LSGCD Board, 2). Calling for a complete, independent audit of LSGCD to review all facets of the District to determine how and where the District can run more effectively 3). Ensuring that the new Board work tirelessly to find as many ways as possible to bring back affordable water rates to the citizens of Montgomery County, 4). Earning the trust of his constituents and to give them the confidence he will do everything in his power to protect their private property rights, lower rates and reestablish the credibility of the LSGCD.

In your opinion, does Does Montgomery County have a water resource or regulation problem?  Why?

We do not. Several studies have shown that Montgomery County has over 180,000,000 acre/feet of water just in our aquifers, not including the Catahoula Aquifer. According the TWBD, since 1900 the water tables have dropped by only 900,000 acre/fett IN TOTAL (about .5% over 118 years!).  Moreover, a Capstone Project conducted by the Bush School of Government and Pulbic Service for the Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2016 states: "At current consumption rates, five of the nine major aquifers have unlimited years of supplies of groundwater (which includes the aquifiers in Montgomery County). Even using historical growth rates in consumption, we reach much the same result." The report also says, "Furthermore, a review of the regulatory practices of the local GCD's supported the conclusion that Texas has a regulation-induced shortage of groundwater". 

Is this position currently fulfilling its obligations?

Not in my opinion. There is such conflict of interest between the LSGCD board and SJRA (Jace Houston is the General Manager of the SJRA and a board member of LSGCD), one has to really suspect any that business carried out by the LSGCD board is for the benefit of anyone but the SJRA or its vendors. The current LSGCD board, which consists of appointed board members, voted to encumber the citizens of MoCo with a $1 billion debt without a single vote for or against the surfacewater project.

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

The 3 largest challenges this position are:

1. Establishing an independently audited baseline of operations to fully see exactly how the LSGCD is being run and where we can cut unnecessary Capital and OpEx expenditures. As mentioned, I will call for a complete and independent audit to get the "real numbers" on the table for a true baseline.

2. Establishing the trust of the citizens of MoCo that this board is in fact indenpendent and will work tirelessly on their behalf. Period. I will call for all meetings to be televised and kept on the District's website for all citizens to see, at their leisure, how we conduct business moving forward.

3. Working to amend legislation to end any further phases of the surfacewater conversion project and also work to repeal the 30% GRP and $10,000/day fines to Large Users.

Who has ownership of the land below and the air above and how far of each?  Is groundwater considered a person’s private property under the Texas Constitution?

The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that groundwater, like oil, is to be considered a person's private property under the Texas Consitution. No entity is entitled to withdraw this resource from the property owner without proper and just compensation.

Are you familiar with the enabling legislation and any subsequent legislation regarding the LSGCD creation, powers, authorities, duties, etc.?

Yes.

What aquifer or aquifers does LSGCD regulate?

Chicot, Evangeline, Jasper and Catahoula

How much subsurface water is contained under Montgomery County, as determined by Texas Development Water Board in their TERS(Total Estimated Recoverable Storage)  Report 2014?

180,000,000 acre feet

What impact does the LSGCD have on our water bills?

Directly, not much. However, since it's the LSCD that is enforcing the 30%GRP and the $10,000/day fine if not met, it forces the large users to buy surface water from SJRA and to pay for the $1B project, which substantially increases water bills.

Who is endorsing you and what is their relationship to you?

I am curently endorsed by Restore Affordable Water, a registered 501(c)(4) advocacy organization. I have no relationship to them other than being endorsed by them through a very similar vetting process to the one done by MCTP PAC. I am also being endorsed by judge Alan B. Sadler, former Mayor Webb Melder and I expect other endorsements in the near future. All current and (hopeful) future endorsements are based on my positions on the issues and not based on personal relationship(s).

Should an aquifer be regulated based on its physical boundaries, or based on the boundaries of political subdivisions of the state?

Clearly it should be regulated on its physical boundries. Nature does not recognize political subdivisions (thankfully!).

What special interest groups have you belonged to or attended meetings of? Include business, social, civic, educational, environmental or any other cause for which you have advocated or supported with time or money.

 I am a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

What impact does the LSGCD have on our water bills?

See answer above.

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

I have not lobbied for any individual or group in the past five years.

Do you support fair and equitable rules for all owners of the common reservoir?  Do you believe that a “common reservoir” is the same as an “aquifer” or “aquifer subdivision”?  Explain.

Yes, I support fair share, which means all owners get treated equally inside of an Aquifer. Yes, a common reservoir is the same as an aquifer, or an aquifer subdivision. 

What are the top 3 areas where the budget for this office needs to be adjusted?

That is a difficult question to answer at this time. Until the new board receives a full, independent audit, it is difficult to address with any certainty this particular question.

Do you support using zero-based budget practices for every governmental entity, elected and appointed?

Yes

Will you vote to limit budget increases to a factor based on population growth and inflation? Explain.

Not necessarily. Other factors need to be considered. For example, an emergency response project not budgeted may be required due to a natural disaster, etc. Population growth and inflation are two keystone factors to be used, but cannot be the only metrics used.

Will you vote to award any contract with less than three qualified bidders?

No

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

No

Should two local government entities force residents to pay billions of dollars for infrastructure development without a vote?

Absolutely not.

Do you support the new board engaging an independent third party to conduct an audit of LSGCD operations and make the findings public?

Absolutely yes.

Do you oppose the use of public funds, other than for needed infrastructure, to subsidize the cost of private facilities such as stadiums, arenas, hotels and other such entities?

Yes

What political party have you affilated with over the last twenty years? Do you believe in that party platform(all of it or % part - if %, please describe what you disagree with?

I have been associated with the Republican Party since 1978 when I earned the right to vote.

What actions should the LSGCD take to implement change that would result in lower water rates for consumers?

The District should look at amending current legislation to disallow any additional phases of the SJRA Surfacewater Plan so as not to further encumber the citizens of MoCo with additional debt without a vote. Further, LSGCD should look at amending current legislation that mandates a $10,000/day fine for Large Volume Groundwater Users (over 10,000,000 gal/yr) if they have not reduced their groundwater consumption by 30%. Amending the amount of the fine, or the mandate all together could have profound, positive effects on lowering water rates.

In 2009, the LSGCD mandated a 30% reduction on water withdrawal from underground aquifers.  On what scientific data was that decision based on?

To date, I have not seen imperical evidence presented by any neutral third party that contained scientific data requiing the 30% GRP requirement. That is one of the significant bones of contention between Lone Star and many of the Large Users.

When and how was the LSGD created?  What are the duties? Where is their authority derived?

The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) was created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, with the purpose of preserving, conserving, and protecting Montgomery County’s groundwater supplies. Its creation was confirmed by local voters, with nearly 75% approval by those casting ballots in the November elections that year. 

The State of Texas gives LSGCD its authority as referenced in Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code. Legislature created a bill passing it. LSGCD is one of 100 Groundwater Districts throughout the state.