HUTTO – The seven candidates running for city council faced off at a forum held by the Hutto Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, April 11. Questions were gathered from chamber members and Board Chair Drew Hargrove presided over the event.
“Tonight’s going to be about making our city better,” Hargrove said. “I want to commend all of y’all for taking the step to be on city council. It’s not been easy the past several years. It’s currently not easy.”
One question candidates answered regarded their top three priorities should they get elected. Infrastructure items and fiscal accountability were among the top listed.
Robin Sutton, Place 1 incumbent: 1) Infrastructure, especially road safety to reduce fatalities; 2) maintain the town’s unique history; 3) collaborate on a vision for Hutto’s future instead of just reacting to the present.
Brian Thompson, Place 1 candidate: 1) implement a citywide long-term strategy for managing growth; 2) make infrastructure sustainable, including creation of a traffic safety committee; 3) improve government oversight of development.
Peter Gordon, Place 4 incumbent: 1) infrastructure – not only roads, but water and wastewater projects; 2) continue to bring in more light industrial and commercial properties to reduce tax burden on citizens; 3) creative ways to hire police officers.
Nicole Calderone, Place 4 candidate: 1) get road projects completed to manage growth, including access roads; 2) Keep taxes affordable by keeping expenses lower and watching where the money goes; 3) streamline permitting processes.
Marcus Coleman, Place 5 candidate: 1) Emergency management preparedness; 2) understanding fiscal responsibility for bidding on line items; 3) physical and mental health for residents, especially children and elderly.
James Weaver, Place 5 candidate: 1) Hire more inspectors to ensure better quality of project completion; 2) Concentrate on getting roadwork done; 3) hire more staff to streamline the permitting process.
Dana Wilcott, Place 5 candidate: 1) infrastructure, not just doing it quick but doing it right with oversight; 2) recruit and retain police officers for public safety; 3) lower taxes so people don’t lose their homes.
A video of the forum can be viewed on the hamber’s social media, www.facebook.com/ HuttoChamber and on the Hutto News Facebook page.
The city election is May 6. Early voting starts April 24 and lasts through May 2.
