What is the job of the position you are running for?

see  tomatthewoodlands.com for detailed information. No, I have no known conflicts.

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

All of my knowledge, skills, and abilities. See  tomatthewoodlands.com  for detailed information. It is interesting to me how few people actually objectively look at my qualifications. They will say my son who is running for position 7 that he is not well qualified in an effort to dismiss their own bias and dismiss him, but not as frequently will they look at my qualifications because they have already made up their minds and don't want to see that I am among the most qualified to ever run for The Woodlands Township. 

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

Part 1. I don't like this question because it simply ignores the full function of the elected representative and his duties to fulfill the entire strategic plan of 8 focus areas (1. Service Delivery, 2. Communications, 3. Organizational Support, 4. Governance, 5. Economic Development, 6. Transportation and Mobility, 7. Environmental Sustainability, and 8. Fiscal Policy) as well as every one of the goals falling underneath those focus areas and any new issues that come up. We need another focus area called 9. Follow the Strategic Plan. We also need to redo the plan WITH significant input from the residents.

Part 2. 1.) Data Collection: for metrics so we can see how well we are achieving our strategic goals as well as apply "The Balanced Scorecard" to our operations. 2.) Transportation: we need to actually do what we can to fix the long-standing problem of increased traffic. 3.) Public Safety: the city of Houston has actually been effective in driving some crime out of traditionally crime-ridden areas, it is spilling over into ares like The Woodlands. We need to be ready for that as well as just the crazy rate of growth going on around us. 4.) Balanced approach to Economic Development: it is imperative that we seek to increase sources of revenue like tourism and sales within The Woodlands and increase the Homestead Exemption to the max as practicable (20%). This economic development is important as no more residential can be built and to maintain the level of amenities we currently have. If we fail to do this, we will be faced in the future with raising taxes on residences or reducing services which contribute to the qualify of life we enjoy.   

You need to see  tomatthewoodlands.com  for a more comprehensive review of the issues. 

Do you think The Woodlands should become a city or remain unincorporated? Why or why not (what are some of the pro's and cons)?  And if so, when should incorporation occur and why in that time frame? 

See  tomatthewoodlands.com for more information on incorporation. I have a whole page dedicated to it. It might have been good for The Woodlands to have been created incorporated with its own ETJ so it could have continued to grow. But I don't know if that was even possible. We must take it as it is. To me, it is a matter of what is in the best interests of the community as a whole - if such a concept can be clear. Indeed on this issue, the best interests of the community can be made clear. We can do a costs-benefit analysis on the costs of incorporation and compare that with the benefits. 

Obviously, there are values that are more important than money to consider; however, the vast majority of those - like quality of life - are themselves wrapped up or majorly affected by the local economy and the nature of a mixed-use master-planned community. I am fortunate to have been an intern in a city Economic and Community Development Department and was able to learn about it. Btw The Woodlands was considered to be the very pinnacle of how to do it at that time and was used as a case study. I understand there's a lot to know here that I do not have the luxury of space to teach right here. But suffice it to write for now that the costs-benefit analysis is the best method to answer the question as to whether it is worthwhile or not. One of the costs no one is willing to endure is the City of Houston taking over The Woodlands and is to be avoided at great cost - we all know that and agree on that point. 

Again, no time to get into all the costs and benefits here. You are encouraged to review my website  tomatthewoodlands.com  for more information. The financials are easier to acquire and more certain but by no means easy. It's not easy because when we project the consequences - we have to consider  the unintended consequences as well as the intended ones. Predicting the future is hard to do but here are some data points. 1. most comparable cities are in debt - do we think we will not follow suit in time? 2. Meta-analysis of many cities suggests that as increased taxation leads to reduced economic development - economic development is what keeps our taxes low and amenities high. 3. The TX Municipal League had a handbook (available on my website  tomatthewoodlands.com ) that provides their wisdom of accumulated experience of incorporating. In that, they also list a negative of incorporation of decreased volunteering, something on which The Woodlands relies. On point #1, the debt is related to the politics. On point #2, the reduced volunteerism is related to the way the public begins to see the centralized entity as responsible for taking care of the community rather than the community be active participants themselves. I read all the reports from TX A&M and others.

The benefits of incorporation currently are akin to communism - they seem to be good but in the end, all it does is give power to the government, increase political power per seat and therefore competition for the seats. Increased competition for the seats results in more division in the community as well as increased debt for the city. Having a line budget item just for tickets will cause our politicians to see easy areas for increasing revenues - I can easily see a neighbor mom pushing a stroller across the street getting arrested for jaywalking. I agree that our homegrown communists will be better than the foreign powers (Conroe or Houston) communists. 

But as long as the Township has the benefits of a City but not the consequences, we are doing better. If or when there is a real threat of takeover by another city - we would clearly at that point be better off having our own. 

With new legislation (HB347) prohibiting annexation of smaller communities by larger/adjacent cities unless approved by voters, is The Woodlands still obligated to pay-off Houston ($1 million) and Conroe ($500,000) for that purpose?

Yes, the contract still stands. Unfortunate, but yes. Do you advocate going back on our word and a literal contract because things improved for us? Negotiating a new contract is a great idea!

It's been reported that The Woodlands comprises only 20% of households in the county, yet provides almost double that (35%) of the county total in property taxes. What would/could you do to correct this gross imbalance of tax inequity?

I am not convinced it is a "gross imbalance". Have you looked at the data to see if it is? Let's take area A and area B of Montgomery County. Let's assume everyone's house is $100k. Area A is more dense and area B is less dense. Because area A is more dense, it has a lot more houses than area B resulting in area A paying more in total taxes. Now let's say area A has an average property valued at $750k and area B the average house valued at $250k, which do you suppose will have more to pay in taxes area A or area B? We all know it is area A will pay more. 

So, in real life The Woodlands has both more density AND a higher value of property resulting in a very substantial increase for that area compared with all other areas in the county. The data is available to see for yourself if this is true. It's just a hypothesis for me until I see that data but one thing that leads me to think it is true is that property values are assessed with the same tax rate. That means unless someone is pulling some really funny business with math that data for all areas should reflect that not only areas are differentiated on the basis of density and property value but that every property is valued the same with little fluctuations from claims of Homestead and other Exemptions - but appropriately within the law duly passed. 

The values of the property themselves are based on market value and the market values in The Woodlands will be going up more so than many other areas of Montgomery County. I suspect for most residents of The Woodlands their house is actually well undervalued by Montgomery County than in the actual market. 

Instead of talking about it, let's look at the data and once and for all know for sure. If it's off, I'll be glad to fight against any injustice. 

Did you support the recent construction initiative of a $300,000 bathroom in Capstone Park. Why or why not?

I know Ann Perry, one of the candidates for position 7, led an effort against it and is using it for political purposes - good for her. I had a lot to do with preventing the expansion of 242 but I haven't bragged about it until now because I don't do this stuff for the fanfare. 

To answer the question, I don't know enough about that particular issue to answer it and I like to be fully informed on an issue before I take a position. I don't know as much about it as I'd like to because I was finishing off my PhD at the time - you know nothing hard; only 40%-60% never complete their dissertations. What I do know is that the Township Parks and Rec found it to be a ripe park for placing a bathroom. Some of the residents didn't want the bathrooms because they thought it might bring unsavory characters. The residents formed a petition and got the Township to back down. A good question to work around would be - would the bathrooms, in fact, bring unsavory characters or not? Regardless, if the residents don't want it, I would say, generally then it should not go in [period]. 

This raises further questions though like assuming it does not bring in unsavory characters - how many residents would it take to kill the proposition? Does proximity to the park matter and those closer get more vote or equal vote? What about someone living on the opposite side of the Village nowhere near it? How important is the matter to the residents? Does it matter little or matter a lot? Again, generally, if the matter has moderate opposition from a few residents after a discussion of facts about the matter takes place - it most likely should be off the drawing board.

And I would further note that the Township has an obligation to be very sensitive to what the residents want and not simply come up with a plan centrally and impose it on the residents. i think the Township central planning has replaced several aquatic features at the swimming pools - that had users been asked first, would have wanted something different - better - like they had before. Since Dr. Nunes has been promoted, I have seen a drop in local public outreach on issues affecting the residents before things get installed. This needs to change. 

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

The short answer is no. The long answer is also no. 

But if you go to  tomatthewoodlands.com  you can learn more about Tom, his vision, and values. 

The township budget funds all reserves 100% yearly. What is the current surplus and should any of it be returned to the residents or retained in a rainy day fund and if so, how much and why? Any other options for the surplus?

The budget went into the negatives this year and they only did a 3% Homestead Exemption. The Township Bureaucracy is scared of tax exemptions and resists them. This is for the reason that it limits their budget but also combined with state limitations on raising taxes and our reliance on potentially volatile sources of revenue like hotel and sales taxes, there is concern about any flexibility in the budget. 

With all things being equal surpluses should be returned to the taxpayers; however, I advocate a 20% Homestead Exemption for all taxpayers to return even more consistently to the residents. Due to the narrow margins and the amount of debt I would want paid there would be little wiggle room for returns in times where there will be surpluses that would need to be retained for a future bad year. 

In principle, yes I agree the money from the taxpayer belongs to the taxpayer and should optimally and most consistently be returned to them. My way of doing it is the best way to do it. This also means in future budgets we might need to save to cushion for bad years and to keep our financial rating high. My plan achieves the best of both worlds except for the Township itself being squeezed into narrower margins. We agree, I have the way of making it happen year after year because it would be politically untenable to pull back the Exemption once it's granted without the voters understanding there is a financial emergency to vote for a temporary removal of the exemption.

In short, my way ensures an enduring and consistent return. 

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.

Not if the County does. That's like double taxation. 

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?

A general fund until what time a project is clearly delineated and budgeted. 

With The Woodlands reaching full residential build-out, what do you think the Township should do to generate additional non-property tax revenues to maintain services without a property tax increase?

A balanced approached to Economic Development projects that bring high probability ROI. 

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?

Sustainable means sustainable in all regards - economically, and ecologically.

Gosh, there's books on this. In short, it means that the policies I advocate are a result of the understanding of the concepts formed back then as well as reflecting our understanding of them now in light of learning AND very importantly what it means to be a mixed-use, master-planned community utilizing the virtuous cycle from good economic development to the benefit of both the businesses and the residents. 

Is there anything in your background of an embarrassing nature that should be explained before your election? Arrests/Convictions? Bankruptcies?

Nothing abnormal. I'm human. Facts: I get stinky now and then. That's embarrassing.  I also wouldn't be where I am without many other good and kindly people - stay humble.  

What are your thoughts about the community using the board to promote certain social justice agendas? Should the board maintain neutrality since they represent broad views of all residents?

That very much depends on the social justice issue. There are rare but real instances of abuse of power. There could be legitimate issues of social justice - that would be step 1. I think of the Second Amendment as a social justice issue as well as any balance and checks on government. 

I think most of your conceptions of social justice are modern ones that may not be legitimate. I think it's fine if the board, representing the community and culture we wish to take a stand against issues that will have a negative impact on our community including:

- the promotion to those who are not adults of gender uncertainty and as a result surgeries and hormones or hormone blockers,

- the promotion of certain civil rights that concern those of a sexual nature when they conflict with other traditional civil rights. 

i think anything new needs to be tested and evidenced before being implemented - not just come up with some neat sounding theory and promoting it just because it is new - that's unwise. 

In this role, you'll be representing both residents & organizations. In the event of a conflict with the Woodlands Development Company and/or the Economic Development Partnership, how would handling this situation?

First, I would disagree wtih the premise of the question. I would not be representing organizations. I would be representing the people or residents. However, it is important that the Board be fair to all sides. 

Step 1. have good relationship with residents and the development company in advance

Step 2. clearly understand the conflict and who is getting what and who is losing what - collect facts

Step 3. talk with both sides to see if a reasonable balance of concerns can be made and probe willingness to make a concession

Step 4. put them in the same room in a Q&A, debate-type format. 

Step 5. If Step 4 doesn't work, The Township may need to develop a formal position and it should carefully weigh the costs and benefits to each side and the expected overall effect on the community. The Township Board should make its position known and try to make it unanimous. 

If Step 5 doesn't work then it is better if I do not fully disclose further potential actions. 

Commissioner Riley is actively planning the extension of the Mansion's Way parkway. What should the Township do to prevent a flood of cut though traffic on Woodlands Parkway?

It is important to bring some traffic for tourism and sales tax purposes to The Woodlands. At the same time, it is important to maintain quality of life. Widening of some roads may not be bad to and from and around The Woodlands but traffic needs to be diverted not through but around The Woodlands and to the destination. At the same time, we need to update our traffic system iaw what I explained on my website  tomatthewoodlands.com  under issues and Transportation.  

What are the 3 most pressing mobility issues in The Woodlands and what is your preferred solution to each?

1. too much traffic 2. too much traffic 3. too much traffic, see my website  HOME | Tomatthewoodlands under Issues and Transportation for the solution. 

The Woodlands is basically built out, except for some land held by Howard Hughes Corp(HHC). Are you concerned they(HHC) may use that to build multi-family housing? And what are the pros and cons of that?

Yes, I am concerned. They've already announced more multi-family. The cons are increased density and what may come with that which decreases quality of life including traffic and potential crime depending on the type of housing project. The pros are increased revenues, which keeps our taxes low and amenities (another quality of life issue) high.  

What do you perceive to be the biggest threat to our community within the next 5 years?

1. Ourselves - not optimizing our possibilities - must update and keep to strategic plan -especially with growth around us and competition for tourism and sales tax increases. 2. Transportation - the population will be growing around us constantly. 3. Public Safety - the population will be growing around us constantly and criminals from Houston are looking for targets - could shift to be #2 or #1 if something significantly bad happens. 

What is your opinion of the Woodlands (Gay) Pride's representation in the Woodlands Independence Day parade and with it, by rule being a patriotic family event, should they be allowed to participate?

My opinion is that it simply should not happen or be allowed in the Independence Day parade or any public parade in which it is not exclusively for that purpose and the public has not been duly warned about it and it is permitted to be in specific locations. I would encourage it not to happen unless there has been some sort of civil rights violation and a need to protest legally protected rights, which I don't see a need for.   

Having written that there may be legal issues that prevent The Township from taking certain actions. What actions can be taken can and should be explored and members of the community should also not be afraid to make their positions known. While the lifestyle may be legally protected, there is no need for it to be publicly encouraged especially when it counters the rights of parents who have a right to raise their children in a traditional manner.   

What, in your view, are the positive and negative aspects of the Township's current governance structure as opposed to being a city?

see my website for a fuller accounting of the answers to this question INCORPORATION | Tomatthewoodlands . 

In short, the positive includes getting almost all the benefits of being a city, without the costs. The Woodlands lacks certain powers of land use and control over police forces but only the Board will have distant control of this over time and definitely not the general public. The average resident would see a temporary increase of serious traffic citations followed by long-term increases of minor traffic citations, increased enforcement of The Woodlands Township ordinances but probably a reduction of overall public safety. 

On the other hand, costs would initially be limited to that budgeted but would soon spiral up, debt would increase substantially, and quality of life is bound to suffer. We would have little more influence over development and the community would become more political and divisive with a corresponding fall in citizenship and less of a volunteering community. Taxes would inevitably increase.  

What is your opinion of the property/land swap Commissioner Noack did with Howard Hughes concerning the Randalls in Grogans Mill Shopping Center with the MoCo So. County Library and Community Center?

This could be a win-win or it could be a win-lose. I have not yet seen the plan in detail to know except what I have read that is publicly available. 

There is a big question as to whether the swap is good for Montgomery County taxpayers and Woodlands residents. That the place for voting from a central location to a peripheral location tells me that there may be more unintended consequences or thought to be worthwhile. Almost all of the current Woodlands Board and Cindy Heiser running for this position 7 are backed by Preserve The Woodlands PAC and literally are in league with County Commissioner James Noack. I find it highly unlikely they will even question the deal or if so only on a superficial level. 

I advocated for the Developer's help in solving that problem years ago now and I have talked with Jim Carmen and Grogan's Mill Village about possible solutions so that it works for the developer who must put money down and get a profit from it as well as the locals who will not want excessive density. When this one came up I can now see what the developer is going to get - it is not as clear to me what the village will end up getting. The plan requires some public and Township Board scrutiny.

The commissioner should be made accountable for any results of this also - if it ends up good - credit; if it ends poorly - discredit. I have not formulated a complete opinion on the matter because I have not seen the details necessary for me to come to a conclusion. I will be attempting to obtain those details. 

Which current Township board member do you identify with the most and why?

I know them all too well to identify fully with any of them. I am a much different person in many respects. I will answer this question by naming each and by saying how I am similar to that one in positive characteristics rather than how I am unlike them or mention any negative characteristics. I am similar to these people in the following ways:

Brad Bailey - knowledge of public policy processes and a go-getter

Linda Nelson - passion for the local business community, smart 

Richard Franks - interest in human communication and he is surprisingly more of an "out-the-box" thinker than one might at first suppose

Kyle Watson - all around good guy but if you cross him, he's got the smarts to defend the interests he must, his ability to think logically as a lawyer is not in question but he also has a higher-than-expected emotional intelligence quotient

Dr. Shelly Sekula Gibbs - a graduate of Our Lady of the Lake University, she's strong-willed, a hard worker, and persistent, built her business from nothing

Dr. Ann Snyder - a hard worker and persistent, I think she is insightful in ways others are not, and brave to stand up for her beliefs even when she was in the minority on the board.  

Bob Milner - has a heart for community service and helped charities, also has an enormously analytical mind capable of bridging the gap between business, nonprofit, and government so I believe he has a good understanding of their similarities and distinctions so that he can make better decisions when he is doing so for one verse another. 

Dr. Sekula-Gibbs has a Doctorate in Medicine while Dr. Snyder in Curriculum and Instruction. I suspect they know more about medicine and curriculum respectively than I do. My Doctorate is in Leadership. What does that say about some of my expertise, and knowledge, and would that be helpful or hurtful to one serving on the Board do you suppose? Is expertise in leadership something we need to get onto the board? Something to think about.