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

1. To give a voice to resident concerns; I saw the need for that after the toilet fiasco 

2. I have the time to invest to be an advocate for resident’s concerns. 

3. I found it rewarding to help my neighborhood and want to continue my volunteer work.  

I have no conflicts as I do not work for The Township, Development Company nor do I have business interests with them.

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

1. I’ve lived here a long time and have an understanding of how our local governance works.

2. In the last two years I’ve been called to get involved, first by learning about the MUDs and more recently fighting for resident wishes regarding Capstone Park.  

3. I have a solid business background given my long successful career.

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

1. I’d like to see more transparency 

2. Responsiveness to resident concerns, and a plan for the future with an eye towards resident’s interests above all else. 

3. Improved website

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? 

We shouldn’t move to become a city until the residents are ready for it; however, it is something we need to eventually explore and understand the costs and benefits of changing our governance structure.

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?

The Regional Participation Agreement (RPA) that governs these payments is a contract that was agreed years before HB347 existed and enforceable under the Texas Constitution. 

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?

We must be a squeaky wheel.  I think most Woodlands households are unaware of how much we subsidize the county government - and we subsidize it beyond the fact that our property values are high we also supplement services above and beyond- yet! We give up control when we pay the county to do it.  We’re sending money out of our community via normal property taxes, then also paying for supplementary services and losing control - for this reason alone it would be very un-strategic to not at least keep self-governance as an option; at least keep them thinking it’s a threat.

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

Famously, I did not.  I’m so appreciative to all the other residents that pitched in to make our petition a success, it was hard fought.  I don’t want future issues to require that much effort on the part of our residents.  

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

No

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 Township tax rate is at an historic low.  The Township’s practice of using excess revenues to fund the bulk of its capital expenditures has proved to be a winning formula and allows the Township to keep its tax rate low and maintaining its high level of amenities for the 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.

Senior pick-up services are mandated by federal law because our Trolley and Park and Ride services receive Federal Transit Authority (FTA) subsidies. It is cheaper to contract these services than to provide them. 

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?

All of the funds in reserve at The Township can be moved around or allocated to other uses when the need arises.

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?

In the 2024 budget, property taxes only cover about 30% of the overall budget.  The Township has done an excellent job of marketing The Woodlands as a destination which in turn generates very high levels of both hotel tax and sales taxes.  The previous Board also leveraged their Economic Development Zone (EDZ) powers to allow the mall to potentially build more retail and hotel space that will benefit the taxpayers of The Woodlands.

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?

Providing for flood mitigation, reducing irreversible subsidence and healthy village centers are important to keeping Mitchell’s vision alive. We’ve not done well on these issues lately. The MUDs are taking more (at least 25%) groundwater than when SJRA opened the surface plant in 2015. Development that is going on around us and continues to go on within our borders can and has caused flooding if left to outsiders that don’t have our resident interests in mind. Departures from Mitchell’s vision has affected the vibrancy of at least 3 of our village centers. We need to approach these kinds of development issues in a way that sustains Mitchell’s original hometown vision.

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

No

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?

I don’t think the Board should be taking formal positions on these issues.

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?

I’m running to represent the residents. Full stop.

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?

I know what the county plans - which is to eliminate the median on Woodlands Parkway to widen the roadway and create more lanes and I’m against that. We don’t have control over the Sheriff’s department to ensure that pass through motorists are made aware that we mean business when it comes to safety.  What options we have now are quite limited but I’m open to ideas as I find it very unfortunate that we’re becoming such a cut-through community; even Conroe has a loop around it and Conroe isn’t famous for being an exceptional planned community.

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

1. Traffic – TxDot should develop a ring road concept to keep traffic flowing around The Woodlands, not through it.
2. Speed Enforcement – Speeding on Woodlands Parkway and on local neighborhood streets has increased significantly, we need local law enforcement to do a better job of policing this issue.
3. Access to I-45 – We need better access to and from I-45.  The county and TxDot need to expedite additional flyover ramps at SH242 and SH1488 to relieve congestion on the I-45 feeder roads.

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?

I’m sure they will build MF housing. That crowds our streets, schools, adds burden to our water resources, the list goes on. There are many more cons than pros.

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

Traffic, water management (both storm and drinking), and over development of our Town Center core.

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?

The Township does not manage the parade.  I think all participants in the parade should abide by the published rules of the organizers. Based on the controversies regarding the last two parades, I would advocate that the Township withdraw their sponsorship funding.

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

As stated in one of your earlier questions, The Woodlands contributes 35% of all property taxes collected by Montgomery County government.  We do not receive 35% of the county services in return for that funding, which is clearly over taxation.  Additionally, the Township funds more than $11m per year for additional patrol services as well as funding the bulk of street scape maintenance in the community.  The biggest issues are a lack of control over roadways, law enforcement and speed limits.

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?

It remains to be seen if this will be of benefit to the Township residents.  It certainly benefits the Howard Hughes Corporation and the County.

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

Shelley Sekula Gibbs. I watched how she advocated for residents on the 242 project and she helped my neighborhood avoid getting toilets that none of us asked for and didn’t want.