|
|
Download & Print
October 19, 2023
Candidates' Q & A - City of Bandera
Conducted by the League of Women Voters
What in your background qualifies you to serve as a member of the Bandera City Council? (Responses in ballot order)
Tony Battle: I have lived in Bandera permanently for the last 20 years but spent a large part of my childhood in Bandera every year since I was six years old. I believe this experience provides me a unique perspective on the history of Bandera. I also spent six years serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city; during that time, we went through a re-codification exercise and the previous master planning effort for the city. I believe this resume and my last ten months serving on the city council qualify me for this position.
Vic Vrazel: Being a Retired Veteran and a Bandera City Resident that wants to be a part of keeping Bandera a Number One Spot of Tourism. And keep Bandera a Wonderful Place to visit and a Beautiful Place to Raise a Family.
Debbie Breen: I grew up in Bandera, graduated from Texas A&M University. After graduation, worked for Boeing as a project manager. Moved back to Bandera County to raise our child and instill small town values and community pride. I have been self-employed for over 23 years and have a track record of active involvement in the Lakehills community where I lived: helped open Boys & Girls Club, president of local library and my church and volunteered in community events. As a City Council candidate, I bring extensive and practical business experience, pro-activeness, open-mindset, and team working ability, and integrity.
Brett Hicks: Since 1951, my family has called Bandera home. My passion for our community motivated me to return to Bandera after college with my wife to raise our 3 children in a place where we are committed to its future. Whether I am serving on an advisory board for my family’s tourism business or volunteering as a coach for my children’s youth sports teams, I have a multifaceted knowledge of what’s important to Bandera citizens. As a corporate manager of a Fortune 200 company, I have the business experience to solve complex problems and represent the voices of our community.
Cindy Coffey: I have been involved in politics (serving with municipal, county, regional and state level policy decision making committees) including a year with Bandera. Since I was self-employed, I was usually the council member who could attend the required conferences for grant consideration which alleviated taxpayer liability to cover project costs. It was my honor to serve as committee chair while producing results for my community and local businesses. Project leadership, community representation up to state level, business sustainability, and event development are the requirements needed to restore the “Bandera Essence” to what we know and love through experience and thoughtfulness.
Manny Longoria: I have 5 months experience as an incumbent appointee. I have voted to approve next year’s budget and I am working on capital improvement projects. I served as past President of a Property Owners Association with a $500,000 budget for 4 years; it had similar issues as Bandera: infrastructure, water, roads, and landscape. Professionally I am a small business owner, as a Commercial Insurance Broker for over 15 years. I am conservative on spending and do not like government overreach. My family moved to Bandera because of its Cowboy Heritage; we believe in the Cowboy Way.
What is the most pressing issue facing the Bandera City Council and what do you hope/plan to do about it?
Battle: Infrastructure is the most pressing issue. Bandera has a wastewater treatment plant that is in violation based on its current location in the floodplain; procuring the required land for a new plant and commencing that project is critical. My professional background in construction and development will allow us to maintain our current momentum. Roads and sidewalks are also pressing issues facing our community. As the chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission years ago, I worked with TXDOT on a grant for $2M of sidewalks, which, unfortunately, was not supported by the council at the time.
Vrazel: The Infrastructure of The City of Bandera-Roads, The City Water and Sewer Systems.
Breen: The most pressing issue should be improving the city’s infrastructure which is expensive, but vital to the community. Building a new sewage treatment plant is high priority to meet town’s needs. Searching/applying/qualifying for grant money to help fund these projects is essential. I bring leadership, solution oriented organizational skills, and practical mindedness to get the job done. Secondly, working actively with the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to plan for water needs now and in the future for our community should also be a priority for the Council.
Hicks: The most pressing issue facing the Bandera City Council is addressing our citizens’ concerns and needs while balancing the annual city budget. For example, the city council needs to focus on improving and maintaining our infrastructure, such as roads and water supply while also considering tax rates and the current economic environment.
Coffey: Since 2016 the city was put on notice that the wastewater treatment plant required relocation. There has been little action regarding this issue. If the city isn’t being fined, they soon will be. Where’s the tax money? Vanity projects, unnecessary master plans (the city doesn’t have enough developable space to justify over 400k on a document that isn’t correct requiring another 25K to “fix”). A lack of government procedural knowledge providing oversight along with the failure to obtain grants created this financially unstable city. Council involvement requires time and schedule flexibility to attend conferences to learn about opportunities and grants.
Longoria: Water (Treatment & Storage). The current council has identified feasible property to move the current water treatment plant, which has been 50 years in the making since after the 1978 flood. Its long over do. We need to avoid the state fines that will come if we do not move it out of the flood zone. Also, we need to invest in water security for the city. We need to develop an Aquifer Storage & Recovery management system for our future water security.
What are the citizens of Bandera telling you about city problems?
Battle: I hear from my constituents that they want Bandera to stay true to its roots as the Cowboy Capital of the World. This designation is the result of the hard work of our ancestors, and it is our responsibility to maintain and to celebrate our history every chance we get. The cowboy lifestyle drew me to Bandera as a young boy from across the globe and ultimately to hang my hat here with my wife from Bandera and our two children. My constituents want leadership with integrity, a dependable infrastructure, and a safe community.
Vrazel: The Infrastructure of The City of Bandera-Roads, The City Water and Sewer Systems.
Breen: People have told me that they want their officials to act responsibly and act as true stewards of taxpayer money. They want sound and transparent government. They want their officials to be honest, fiscally responsible, accountable, and fair. Develop the “hidden gem” of our city, the Medina River, to its fullest potential. Allow it to become more of a focal point for the town events and visitors. The prosperity of Bandera relies heavily on tourism. Many citizens seek a balance of tourism and not losing their small town atmosphere and values. Our calling card is “Keep Bandera Western”.
Hicks: Citizens have shared with me their concerns about the increasing tax rates, city leadership turnover, safety, and road conditions. Citizens have also shared their desire to keep Bandera authentic to its rich Cowboy history. Our citizens want our community to be the same that everyone knows and loves.
Coffey: The residents express disappointment over the continued property tax increases as they see no road improvements, parks are clustered, quality of water delivery, increased utility costs, lack of resolve from the council regarding issues affecting the residents, who are disgusted by the lack of respect and feeling unwelcomed at meetings. Is this the intention? Businesses feel unsupported. If there weren’t local organizations or local businesses producing events business would be dismal. We need a council who aggressively develops new events generating interest to support our community, obtain grants to reduce reliability on our property taxes while improving our city services.
Longoria: Citizens want to see more cowboy happenings in town and horses and a frontier look to promote our history. They also don’t want to be taxed out of the city they love. Citizens do not want to become a Boerne but would like a few extras, like an urgent care emergency center, another hotel for friends or family to stay and visit, and they want to attract more local mom & pop family businesses. I have heard it, “Keep it simple Manny, Keep it Cowboy, Make things Better, not Bigger just Better.”
Voter’s guides are available at lwvhillcountrytexas.org/bandera-county.
Please see more election information, including sample ballots, at https://www.banderacounty.org/page/elections.current.elections
Tony Battle: I have lived in Bandera permanently for the last 20 years but spent a large part of my childhood in Bandera every year since I was six years old. I believe this experience provides me a unique perspective on the history of Bandera. I also spent six years serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city; during that time, we went through a re-codification exercise and the previous master planning effort for the city. I believe this resume and my last ten months serving on the city council qualify me for this position.
Vic Vrazel: Being a Retired Veteran and a Bandera City Resident that wants to be a part of keeping Bandera a Number One Spot of Tourism. And keep Bandera a Wonderful Place to visit and a Beautiful Place to Raise a Family.
Debbie Breen: I grew up in Bandera, graduated from Texas A&M University. After graduation, worked for Boeing as a project manager. Moved back to Bandera County to raise our child and instill small town values and community pride. I have been self-employed for over 23 years and have a track record of active involvement in the Lakehills community where I lived: helped open Boys & Girls Club, president of local library and my church and volunteered in community events. As a City Council candidate, I bring extensive and practical business experience, pro-activeness, open-mindset, and team working ability, and integrity.
Brett Hicks: Since 1951, my family has called Bandera home. My passion for our community motivated me to return to Bandera after college with my wife to raise our 3 children in a place where we are committed to its future. Whether I am serving on an advisory board for my family’s tourism business or volunteering as a coach for my children’s youth sports teams, I have a multifaceted knowledge of what’s important to Bandera citizens. As a corporate manager of a Fortune 200 company, I have the business experience to solve complex problems and represent the voices of our community.
Cindy Coffey: I have been involved in politics (serving with municipal, county, regional and state level policy decision making committees) including a year with Bandera. Since I was self-employed, I was usually the council member who could attend the required conferences for grant consideration which alleviated taxpayer liability to cover project costs. It was my honor to serve as committee chair while producing results for my community and local businesses. Project leadership, community representation up to state level, business sustainability, and event development are the requirements needed to restore the “Bandera Essence” to what we know and love through experience and thoughtfulness.
Manny Longoria: I have 5 months experience as an incumbent appointee. I have voted to approve next year’s budget and I am working on capital improvement projects. I served as past President of a Property Owners Association with a $500,000 budget for 4 years; it had similar issues as Bandera: infrastructure, water, roads, and landscape. Professionally I am a small business owner, as a Commercial Insurance Broker for over 15 years. I am conservative on spending and do not like government overreach. My family moved to Bandera because of its Cowboy Heritage; we believe in the Cowboy Way.
What is the most pressing issue facing the Bandera City Council and what do you hope/plan to do about it?
Battle: Infrastructure is the most pressing issue. Bandera has a wastewater treatment plant that is in violation based on its current location in the floodplain; procuring the required land for a new plant and commencing that project is critical. My professional background in construction and development will allow us to maintain our current momentum. Roads and sidewalks are also pressing issues facing our community. As the chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission years ago, I worked with TXDOT on a grant for $2M of sidewalks, which, unfortunately, was not supported by the council at the time.
Vrazel: The Infrastructure of The City of Bandera-Roads, The City Water and Sewer Systems.
Breen: The most pressing issue should be improving the city’s infrastructure which is expensive, but vital to the community. Building a new sewage treatment plant is high priority to meet town’s needs. Searching/applying/qualifying for grant money to help fund these projects is essential. I bring leadership, solution oriented organizational skills, and practical mindedness to get the job done. Secondly, working actively with the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to plan for water needs now and in the future for our community should also be a priority for the Council.
Hicks: The most pressing issue facing the Bandera City Council is addressing our citizens’ concerns and needs while balancing the annual city budget. For example, the city council needs to focus on improving and maintaining our infrastructure, such as roads and water supply while also considering tax rates and the current economic environment.
Coffey: Since 2016 the city was put on notice that the wastewater treatment plant required relocation. There has been little action regarding this issue. If the city isn’t being fined, they soon will be. Where’s the tax money? Vanity projects, unnecessary master plans (the city doesn’t have enough developable space to justify over 400k on a document that isn’t correct requiring another 25K to “fix”). A lack of government procedural knowledge providing oversight along with the failure to obtain grants created this financially unstable city. Council involvement requires time and schedule flexibility to attend conferences to learn about opportunities and grants.
Longoria: Water (Treatment & Storage). The current council has identified feasible property to move the current water treatment plant, which has been 50 years in the making since after the 1978 flood. Its long over do. We need to avoid the state fines that will come if we do not move it out of the flood zone. Also, we need to invest in water security for the city. We need to develop an Aquifer Storage & Recovery management system for our future water security.
What are the citizens of Bandera telling you about city problems?
Battle: I hear from my constituents that they want Bandera to stay true to its roots as the Cowboy Capital of the World. This designation is the result of the hard work of our ancestors, and it is our responsibility to maintain and to celebrate our history every chance we get. The cowboy lifestyle drew me to Bandera as a young boy from across the globe and ultimately to hang my hat here with my wife from Bandera and our two children. My constituents want leadership with integrity, a dependable infrastructure, and a safe community.
Vrazel: The Infrastructure of The City of Bandera-Roads, The City Water and Sewer Systems.
Breen: People have told me that they want their officials to act responsibly and act as true stewards of taxpayer money. They want sound and transparent government. They want their officials to be honest, fiscally responsible, accountable, and fair. Develop the “hidden gem” of our city, the Medina River, to its fullest potential. Allow it to become more of a focal point for the town events and visitors. The prosperity of Bandera relies heavily on tourism. Many citizens seek a balance of tourism and not losing their small town atmosphere and values. Our calling card is “Keep Bandera Western”.
Hicks: Citizens have shared with me their concerns about the increasing tax rates, city leadership turnover, safety, and road conditions. Citizens have also shared their desire to keep Bandera authentic to its rich Cowboy history. Our citizens want our community to be the same that everyone knows and loves.
Coffey: The residents express disappointment over the continued property tax increases as they see no road improvements, parks are clustered, quality of water delivery, increased utility costs, lack of resolve from the council regarding issues affecting the residents, who are disgusted by the lack of respect and feeling unwelcomed at meetings. Is this the intention? Businesses feel unsupported. If there weren’t local organizations or local businesses producing events business would be dismal. We need a council who aggressively develops new events generating interest to support our community, obtain grants to reduce reliability on our property taxes while improving our city services.
Longoria: Citizens want to see more cowboy happenings in town and horses and a frontier look to promote our history. They also don’t want to be taxed out of the city they love. Citizens do not want to become a Boerne but would like a few extras, like an urgent care emergency center, another hotel for friends or family to stay and visit, and they want to attract more local mom & pop family businesses. I have heard it, “Keep it simple Manny, Keep it Cowboy, Make things Better, not Bigger just Better.”
Voter’s guides are available at lwvhillcountrytexas.org/bandera-county.
Please see more election information, including sample ballots, at https://www.banderacounty.org/page/elections.current.elections