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A Look at Candidates in Tarrant Municipal Elections | the Star­Telegram 4/28/2016 Voters Guide 2016: A look at candidates in Tarrant municipal elections | The Star­Telegram LOCAL APRIL 26, 2016 4:22 PM Voters Guide 2016: A look at candidates in Tarrant municipal elections HIGHLIGHTS The election is May 7 Some cities have charter elections and propositions on the ballot 1 of 3 i BY SANDRA BAKER [email protected] The Star-Telegram sent a Voters Guide questionnaire to all the candidates appearing on ballots in various cities throughout Tarrant County in contested races on May 7. These are their responses: Arlington City Council District 1 Kelly Canon Age: 56 http://www.star­telegram.com/news/local/article74024877.html 1/40 4/28/2016 Voters Guide 2016: A look at candidates in Tarrant municipal elections | The Star­Telegram Occupation and/or main source of income: Facilities Planning Principal, at L3 Communications, Arlington. City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Arlington, 20 years Web site: http://www.KellyCanon.com Education background, including all degrees: Graduated from Texas A&M University in 1982, with a degree in Architecture Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Led the fight to ban red-light cameras in Arlington, 2015; Three- time delegate to the GOP State Convention; VP of Arlington Tea Party 2013 to present. Awarded “Conservative Leadership” in 2014, by Empower Texans, Awarded “Champion of Freedom” in 2015 by Grassroots America/We The People Organization. Offices you have sought and/or held before: Arlington City Council, 2011 In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office: I’ve been gainfully employed in the construction industry since I graduated college in 1982. My ability to understand all types of construction documents (architectural, mechanical, electrical, civil, etc.), building codes, and other construction issues, gives me an inside edge to understanding the projects/proposals that come before the council. I will bring to the council my knowledge derived from my professional background in the construction industry, along with my strong civic knowledge of conservative constitutional principles concerning fiscal responsibility, limited government, and the protection of personal liberties – and property. In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them: Transportation, the city’s management of the budget, and keeping our taxes low. I led the fight to ban red-light cameras in Arlington because they were a revenue scam, and needed to end. I understand that cities need to have a strong revenue base, but the red-light cameras were the wrong way to go about it. As a council member, I hope to improve transparency in our city government, and will strive to ensure that our tax dollars are spent wisely. But more importantly, I hope to prevent such onerous revenue-generating programs from being considered in the future. In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you: I am a proud 8th generation Texan, and a 5th great-niece to the great father of our state, Sam Houston. I know the importance of strong fiscal responsibility and limited government, and if elected, I will bring those priorities to the table, along with my extensive construction management experience, so that we can all enjoy the economic prosperity that results from such valued principles of governance at the local level. I ask for your support and your vote on May 7. Charlie Parker Age: 66 Occupation and/or main source of income: I am a retired Commander in the United States Navy, I also had a career in commercial aviation as an International Captain for TWA for 21 yrs. and a Captain for American for 11 yrs. City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Arlington, 36 yrs. Web Site: Electcparker.com Education background including degrees: BS Aeronautical Engineering from San Jose State University. Highlights of current and past civic involvement: I have been the Councilman for District 1 for the past 4 years. During that time I have removed the gangs from North Arlington, been integral in tearing down slum/crime infested apartment complexes, and in the discussion of a new Senior Center for the 54,000 aging citizens of Arlington. I have fully supported http://www.star­telegram.com/news/local/article74024877.html 2/40 4/28/2016 Voters Guide 2016: A look at candidates in Tarrant municipal elections | The Star­Telegram the Arlington Commons and Texas Live projects. I have contributed in setting the table for the GM $1.4 billion dollar investment in the Arlington plant. Currently, I am trying to reduce the city’s electrical bill for the next 9 yrs. and save $39 million dollars in the process. Offices you have sought and/or held before: None In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office: My records of accomplishments stand by themselves. As a Naval Aviator/Officer and Captain for major airlines, I have been a leader all my adult life. I understand that communication is the key to leadership. I clear my emails daily and get back to my constituents in a timely fashion. I have instituted a regiment of Town Hall Meetings on a six-month basis to keep the citizens informed and seek their comment as to what else can be accomplished. And lastly, I am the only councilperson that I know of, that has a blog to inform the citizens as to what I am doing and how I am doing it. In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them: The biggest question facing our city is the Texas Rangers. As a city we are working with Ranger’s management and ownership to come to an agreement to keep the Rangers in Arlington. Once an agreement is coined by the city and Rangers, we will have to present this issue to the voters for approval. 2. I have brought the issue of the Senior Center before Council. Due to my efforts, the center is currently designed and a destination has been decided upon. 3. Lastly, we have heard the citizens speak about the condition of our roads. Currently we are allocating $53 million a year to repave/rebuild our roads. In 100 words or less, please add anything else you would like voters to know about you: As your councilman for the last four years, I have worked tirelessly to make North Arlington a better place to live, work and raise our children. I have been transparent and approachable. I have a tremendous relationship with Chief Johnson and Chief Crowson and my door is always open to citizens and staff alike. I have fought hard to ensure that our first responders have everything that they need to protect our citizens, but I have fulfilled my fiduciary responsibility by reducing overtime to maintain budget constraints. I have worked with Police and Code Control to bring the quality of living up for those residing in apartments. District 7 Chris “Dobi” Dobson Did not respond Victoria Farrar-Myers Age: 47 Occupation and/or main source of income: Professor City of residence and how long you’ve lived there: Arlington, 4 years and 1998-2002. Web site: victoriaforarlington.com Education background, including all degrees: B.S., Political Science & Public Administration, Russell Sage College; M.A., Political Science, University of Illinois; Ph.D., Political Science, University at Albany, SUNY Highlights of your current and past civic involvement: Chair-Elect Leadership Arlington; Rotary Club of Arlington; Arlington Advisory Board for Center for Transforming Lives (formerly YWCA); Junior League of Arlington, Parliamentarian (currently, Sustaining Member); Arlington ISD Financial Futures Committee; Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Education and Workforce Development Board Offices you have sought and/or held before: Arlington Planning & Zoning Commission (current member) http://www.star­telegram.com/news/local/article74024877.html 3/40 4/28/2016 Voters Guide 2016: A look at candidates in Tarrant municipal elections | The Star­Telegram In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office: I am a dedicated civic leader, an award-winning educator, and an experienced administrator. As a professor of political science, I write and teach about leadership, government, and public policy from a practical, hands-on perspective, and will apply this knowledge as a City Council member. Actively engaged in our community, I know at a grassroots level what issues are most important to our residents – what their concerns are, what motivates them, what their hopes for themselves and our city are. As an administrator, I have experience in strategic planning and visioning, and developing and implementing innovative solutions to problems. In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them: I am focusing on improving the City’s streets particularly in our neighborhoods, ensuring public safety by having properly equipped and compensated police and fire departments, and being a responsible steward of the tax dollars that fund the City’s operations. Achieving these objectives requires a holistic, balanced approach to policy-making, and when necessary favoring the “needs” of the city over the “wants”. Further, to ensure that non-core services do not result in a budgetary drain, the City should, for example, utilize public-private partnerships, pursue economically self-sufficient projects, and adopt policies that build a stronger and more diverse tax base.
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