Motivation

MY MOTIVATION FOR RUNNING

First, I believe my experience in business, land planning, large-scale landscaping and hands-on knowledge of the infrastructure and the planning and development process will enable me to make positive contribution to Council as it sets policy and makes long-term and short-term decisions.

My second reason for running is my mounting dismay at my incumbent’s decisions, actions and proposals. In addition, I question her overall decision-making process and the inconsistencies in her voting record. Some of her votes (below) did, or would have, cost the City millions in unrecoverable tax revenue. Others just defy logic.

MY OPPONENT’S VOTING RECORD (selected)

This list will be expanded throughout the campaign. Keep checking back for my opponent’s proposals and votes on more topics, including the Denton Police Department, 6,000-acre Hunter Ranch-Cole Ranch Development, Denton Energy Center, Ethics Board, Gas Well Reverse Setbacks, Brinker Road affordable housing project and the City’s response to the COVID pandemic.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Voted AGAINST:

TYSON SALES AND DISTRIBUTION, a 350,000 sq. ft,  65-acre project.

Denton competed with sites in four other states for Tyson.

PROJECT VALUE: $50 million 

PRIOR w/ag exemption: $3,720.00  Total tax revenue/yr: $23.08  

COST to the City (incentives, first 10 years): $268,976.78

REVENUE to the City (first 10 years): $2.3 million

NEW JOBS:  100 @ $22-$45/hr.

Voted FOR :

Creating the Tyson Reinvestment Zone at the first vote (requires two council votes), then,

Voted AGAINST:

Creating the Tyson Reinvestment Zone at the second vote and voted against Tyson on all subsequent votes.
ID 19-083, (1/15/2019); ID 19-159; ID 19-161 (2/5/2019);
ID 19-929, (5/21/2019)

Voted AGAINST:

UNITED STATES COLD STORAGE, a 40-acre project

PROJECT VALUE: $28.6 million

Prior w/ag exemption:        $ 7,131.00     Total tax revenue/yr:  $45

COST to the City (total incentives): $70,000

REVENUE to the City:        $117,000/yr.

NEW JOBS: 67, starting $15-18/hr.
ID 18-1065 (7/17/2018)

DENTON ENERGY CENTER

Voted FOR:

A contract for lubricating oil to keep machinery operational.

ID19-1289 (6/18/2019)

Voted AGAINST:

A contract with Wartsila for parts and services for the electric generating plant at the Denton Energy Center.
ID 19-1597  (7/16/2019)

Voted FOR:

A contract for a supply of corrosion inhibitor and monopropylene glycol cooling water additives for the Denton Energy Center.
ID 19-2073  (9/10/2019)

ABSTAINED:

From voting on the purchase from Wartsila of major-overhaul parts for the electric generating equipment at the Denton Energy Center.
ID 20-350 (2/4/2020)

Voted AGAINST:

A contract for Engine Emissions Performance testing services for the electric generating equipment at the Denton Energy Center.
ID 20-592  (3/17/2020)

Voted AGAINST:

A contract for Turbo Charger Cartridges for the electric generating equipment at the Denton Energy Center.
ID 20-592 (3/17/2020)

Voted AGAINST:

Protecting taxpayers by purchasing generation utility plant forced-outage insurance for the Denton Energy Center.
ID 20-744  (5/5/20)

Voted FOR:

Rejecting any and all competitive proposals for the supply and installation of exhaust air silencers at the Denton Energy Center. (motion passed, 7-0)
ID 20-999 (6/9/2020)

ADVOCATED REPEATEDLY for:

Selling the 3-year old, $212 million Denton Energy Center “for scrap” or “on eBay.”

My opponent has called repeatedly for shutting down the Denton Energy Center. Now, the DEC generates revenue and other cost savings that cover the annual $17 million debt payment.

However, had my opponent’s call been heeded, we the ratepayers would been stuck with both paying for our electricity at market rates, which can be very expensive, AND making $17 million/year debt payments via our electric bills.

IMPACT FEES

Voted AGAINST:

A major updating and revision of our water and wastewater impact fee schedules, based on land use and capital improvements plans, to ensure a fair share of these costs are recovered from new projects.

ID 19-008 (1/15/2019)

BOND PROGRAM

Voted FOR:

Creation of the 2019 Special Citizens Bond Advisory Committee and appointments by council members. Also made two appointments to the Bond Committee.

ID 19-920, ID 19-921 (4/23/2019)

Then, voted AGAINST:

The calling of a bond election on November 5, 2019, so Denton voters could vote on the $221 million 2019 bond program for improvements to our streets, sidewalks and lightning ($154M), renovations for and new police facilities ($61.9M), acquisition of land for parks ($5M), and public art ($619,000). (Voters approved all except public art.)

ID 19-1831, (8/1/2019)

But voted FOR:

An agreement with Denton County for joint election services for the Denton bond election on November 5, 2019, and Canvassing election returns of the bond election.
ID 19-2363 (10/8/2019); ID 19-2709, (11/4/2019)

Then voted AGAINST:

Creation of a Citizen Bond Oversight Committee to monitor, evaluate and report on expenditures from the 2019 bond program and all prior bond programs. Declined to make an appointment to this committee.
ID 19-2886 (12/17/2019)

ROADS

Voted AGAINST:

Widening E. McKinney St by Ryan High School, from Loop 288 east to South Fork Road, which will provide safer pedestrian and vehicular access to Ryan High School.
ID 19-2729 (11/19/2019)

Voted AGAINST:

Acceptance of $5.75 million from Denton County for Phase II of the South Bonnie Brae St. widening project, construction costs and acquisition of essential construction and sewer easements.
ID 20-479 (3/17/2020)

But voted FOR:

Construction administration services, rearrangement of gas lines, and acquisition of an easement, and settlement of a lawsuit re: an easement for the same project.

ID 19-325, (2/12/2019); ID 19-014,  (3/26/2019); ID 19-1877, (8/27/2019);  ID 19-2728  (11/19/2019);  ID 20-479,(3/17/2020); ID 20-679, (3/31/2020).

Voted AGAINST:

The purchase of land to be used in the widening of Mayhill Road south of Spencer Road and north of I-35E.
ID 19-2809, (11/19/2019)

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Voted AGAINST:

Adoption of the Denton Historic Preservation Plan, which had not been updated in 33 years, since 1986.
HLC19-030c,  (10/22/2019)

UTILITIES

Voted AGAINST:

Giving future ratepayers the option to retain local control over solid-waste rates.
Had she prevailed, future ratepayers (residences and businesses) would have been held captive to rates determined by outside, single-source trash haulers.
ID 19-529  (4/2/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

The City’s schedule of electricity fees, billings, deposits, procedures, etc., for administrative services to city utilities customers.
ID 18-1494  (9/18/2018)

Voted AGAINST:

Acquisition of easements for sewer lines at Vintage Blvd. and S.H. 377 as part of the Bonnie Brae Street widening.
ID 19-1877  (8/27/2019)

CITY FACILITIES

Voted AGAINST:      

A change order to an agreement with the architect for the design, engineering, and renovation of the new City Development Services Building at 401 North Elm Street (former Daybreak building).

Voted AGAINST:      

An agreement ensuring project controls throughout Construction Management at Risk Projects: These include construction of the police substation and firing range and renovation of the police headquarters and Development Services Building (Daybreak).
ID 20-1194, (6/23/2020)

CITY PROCEDURES, POLICIES, MAINTENANCE & HOUSEKEEPING

Voted AGAINST:      

An anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy for all City facilities and programs.
ID 18-1825,  (12/4/2018)

Voted AGAINST:      

A policy that allows special use of City facilities during inclement weather.
ID 19-1648,   (7/16/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

Reducing staff time spent preparing reports created by excessive requests from Council members and accompanying costs.
ID 19-2026,  (8/27/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

An amendment to a lease between the City and the owner of 221 E.Hickory St. to correct the owner’s name.
ID 19-367, (2/12/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

Correcting a prior clerical error in the Denton Handbook for Boards, Commissions and Council Committees.
ID 19-1441, (7/16/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

A contract for removal of construction and maintenance materials left over from internal City projects.
ID 19-1509  (7/16/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

The purchase of supplies used in maintenance of our parks. ID 19-2132  (9/17/2019)

Voted AGAINST:      

An ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements, a standard responsibility of city managers.
ID 19-2371  (11/5/2019)