I am running for Baytown City Council because I see an opportunity to give the city I have called home for the past 60 years a strong, thoughtful, and reasonable voice. Having lived in Baytown for six decades, I care deeply about our community and its future. I take the time to carefully analyze issues, consider the impact of decisions, and make thoughtful choices based on what is best for our residents. I also have the time and commitment necessary to serve, and I want to help make Baytown a city we are proud to call home—a city that is well-managed, responsible, and worth coming home to.

One of my priorities will be increasing accountability and transparency in city government. Taxpayer dollars should be spent responsibly, and residents deserve to know how their money is being used. I want to work with each city department and my fellow council members to identify ways to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary spending, eliminate waste, and make better use of our resources. My goal is to work collaboratively to find practical solutions and ensure that city government is accountable to the people it serves. I am running because I believe Baytown can do better, and I am willing to put in the time, thought, and effort to help make that happen.

 I would focus on making Baytown more attractive to quality businesses by improving the appearance and infrastructure of our major business corridors, particularly Garth Road. A clean, well-maintained, and welcoming business district creates confidence for both businesses and consumers. I would also review our zoning, permitting, and business-use requirements to determine whether they are unnecessarily restrictive compared with neighboring communities.

At the same time, we need to ensure that incentives provided to large industries are fair and competitive with other major industrial areas. My goal would be to attract new investment, support existing businesses, and create a business-friendly environment while protecting the interests of Baytown taxpayers.

 Baytown’s public safety is my top priority. Currently, our crime rates exceed state and national averages, and our police force is understaffed. While national standards recommend approximately 206 officers for a city of our size, we currently employ an average of 170.

As we grow, the need for enhanced security is clear. The development of the new I-10 and Garth retail corridor and the operational requirements of the Exxon Mobil Baytown Event Center (EMBEC) demand a proactive approach to public safety. If elected, I am committed to increasing our police presence to ensure the security of our residents and visitors, and to better manage the challenges of our city’s expansion. 

Big industries and businesses also pay taxes. The amount of money generated from taxing businesses adds up faster than taxes from homeowners. A small increase in homeowner tax rates will also affect big businesses. There is no question that the city needs money to survive. This money mainly comes from taxes. If homeowners are paying an additional $50 a year think about the addtional money a large business will be adding to the city's account. An additional source of income could be incured by reducing the breaks we give big industries on their tax rate. I believe these breaks should be researched and be more in line with other large industrial cities. 

In order to reduce taxes the City of Baytown will need to reduce spending. I plan to interact with each department to help them work towards reduced spending. Once spending is reduced then the city will be able to reduce the tax rate.