Alpine’s four candidates for mayor recently sat down with Dallas Baxter to discuss their reasons for running and what they think they can do as mayor of the Tri-counties’ largest city. Alpine’s mayoral election is held May 10. Early voting has already begun, and ends May 6.
How long in Alpine: 3 years
Current Occupation: Retired Navy Lt. Commander
Born: Norfolk, VA Raised: Long Beach, MS
Schooled: Long Beach High School, University of Southern Alabama, Mobile; MA, U.S. Naval War College
Career: Twenty years military service
Entered civic affairs: Began attending council meetings 2005, attend each week.
Q. Why are you running for mayor? From attending council meetings, I think council members need some direction. We need to see that we run our city efficiently and do positive things for Alpine.
Q. What do you see as your qualifications for the job? My military background as personnel inspector general, an efficiency job, and I ran two commands: one logistics, the other a Navy base in Yokohama, Japan.
Q. What do you see as the mayor’s role in city government? Based on the charter, the mayor represents the city, presides over council and votes to break ties. The mayor is a liaison to the governor if there is a declared emergency.
Q. What is your platform? Why should people vote for you? I believe in being proactive, not reactive. I want to energize city government, let citizens know that government is working for them. I want to inspire people to get involved, to bring their vision to their elected officials and have people feel they can do that. I’d like to bring coalition to business, Sul Ross and the Alpine ISD, to have us work to make Alpine one of the best towns in the state.
Q. What does the city need – your top 3 priorities? a) Look at the charter, streamline and update; ordinances need to be coordinated; no laws you can’t enforce. b) Be sure we have infrastructure for the present and future. c) Look at fiscal standing and see what we can achieve. “Don’t spend what you don’t have.” The Alpine ISD has a surplus, which should be used to improve the schools rather than raising taxes.
Q. Where does the city government need improvement? How would you implement this? It’s running and doing what it needs to do. City government needs an efficiency review so we know we’re doing the job efficiently, to be sure the right people are in the right job.
Q. Would you speak to the ongoing issues of:
1. of Southside water problems? The project is ongoing; it’s been too long in coming. If there are still problems with Southside water, they need to be resolved quickly.
2. Street condition and flood control? Citizens and university personnel need to assist the City Manager and council and find solutions. Those with expertise should lend a hand.
3. Animal Control? Shelter staff size may be an issue; the shelter now has property. If a grant is approved by the Agriculture Department and with Humane Society help, all entities should work together. Citizens should help by reporting abuse and negligence.
4. City Finances/budget? With an audit and financial statement, the City Manager needs to give a more condensed version to council and explain to new members how to look at a budget. Projects and budgets should work together. Prioritize things, most important things first.
Q. Any other statements you’d like to make? La Entrada and the Border Wall are also local issues. City government can start working on issues as they start, when they are easier to take care of. Water is a big issue. How will that impact the future? How much growth can our water supply support? For example, Sul Ross leasing land to a motel without the city knowing about it. I want to hear people’s suggestions so we can make our town what we want it to be. I’m a clean slate when it comes to Alpine; I have no personal agenda. I’d like to work with everyone to make us all happy.
Age: 60
How long in Alpine: 20 years
Current Occupation: Self-employed, “Something Special”
Born: Manchester, NH Raised: Mostly Texas (Air Force Family)
Schooled: High School, El Paso and Bunker Hill, Indiana; College: Henderson State, Arkadelphia, AR
Career: Army; Citicorp; Self-employed
Entered civic affairs: Alpine Ambassadors, former Chamber of Commerce Board, former Girl Scout Board, member First Main Street Alpine Board, former President Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Permian Basin.
Q. Why are you running for mayor? I was encouraged by many people. I think I can bring some new ideas and direction to the city and city council to see the bigger picture.
Q. What do you see as your qualifications for the job? I’m willing to work, dedicated to the city and to improving our little corner of the world.
Q. What do you see as the mayor’s role in city government? Providing overall leadership and direction to focus on the big picture, to streamline procedures.
Q. What is your platform? Why should people vote for you? Fresh ideas. New blood.
No personal agendas. I’d like to give back through my capabilities and my skills.
Q. What does the city need – your top 3 priorities? a) Focus on economic development – tourism doesn’t really create employment. Kids move away because there are no opportunities. b) Relocate/diminish the deer population in Alpine. We could begin to relocate with a program like the one at Lakeway, Texas.
c) City beautification.
Q. Where does the city government need improvement? How would you implement this?My experience says the city government is working.
Q. Would you speak to the four ongoing issues of:
1. Southside water problems? This is being solved. They’ve let a contract and are putting in a pipeline. The issue is being dealt with.
2. Street condition and flood control? I don’t think we have a flood control problem. When it rains, the creeks run – that’s typical for the Western U.S. I’d love to see us be involved in a major street renovation, but we don’t have the money to do it. For the most part, I think the streets are in pretty good shape.
3. Animal Control? I think we ought to move forward with the Humane Society. I’m sure the existing facility meets state and federal guidelines or it couldn’t function.
4. City finances/budget? The current budget is probably working. We should work within our budget. We should monitor our expenses and stay within the guidelines and not overspend.
Q. Any other statement you’d like to make? No.
Age: 49
How long in Alpine: 18 years
Current Occupation: Owner, Highland Inn; real estate
Born: McKinney, Texas Raised: Garland, Texas
Schooled: High School: Garland; College: Sul Ross State University
Career: Sul Ross State U. recruiter/counselor; business owner; real estate
Entered civic affairs: 1997, Alpine Parks Board; 1998-2000, Ward 4 City Councilor
Q. Why are you running for mayor? I see the mayor as a peacekeeper, mediator, moderator and cheerleader for the city; I feel my experience has prepared me to be that.
Q. What do you see as your qualifications for the job? I have council experience, time and connections in the community. I have my finger on the pulse of the business community and the tourism business locally. I thought long and hard about entering the race; as a write-in candidate, if I win, I’m really who the people wanted.
Q. What do you see as the mayor’s role in city government? The mayor has signatory responsibilities. The mayor needs to be making contacts with state, federal representatives to learn what they can bring to the area financially. The city charter gives the mayor no actual administrative duties. In a “weak mayor” city government, the mayor follows the issues and at council meetings is impartial and guides the meeting. The mayor does not get involved in the debate. The Charter sets the spirit – the mayor loses objectivity of s/he gets involved.
Q. What is your platform? Why should people vote for you? I want to help facilitate the completion of the water and sewer projects.
I want to pursue through all means possible creating quite zones for the train crossings and encourage the city and county to enforce the boom box ordinances fairly. I want to seek more events and functions to boost our economy and promote the area. I want to plant the seeds for Alpine to become a more environmentally-friendly city by using electric vehicles for non-emergency vehicles; replacing paper and plastic bags with reusable cloth; pursue replacing incandescent and fluorescent with natural and LED lighting; plant as many native trees as possible; seed local wild flower along the roadways; enact ordinances that allow electric carts to be used in place of combustion engines; adjust our waste stream down to zero – reduce, reuse, recycle.
Q. What does the city need – your top 3 priorities? a) Finish the water and sewer projects – these are basic needs that our citizens haven’t had
b) Share the tax burden through annexation and give services within a reasonable time – be good citizens, neighbors and leaders balancing the cost of infrastructure with the benefits of a larger tax base
c) Establish a train quiet zone – we can do it. The railroad has told us how to do it. It will help our tourism and the sanity of our citizens. We need to find the money.
Q. Where does the city government need improvement? How would you implement this? We need to encourage council members to do their homework to keep the council agenda clear of items that are already addressed in ordinance. This will reduce redundancy and free the city manager to do his job.
We need an organizational chart and job descriptions of city management.
Q. Would you speak to the four ongoing issues of:
1. Southside water problems? See previous answer.
2. Street conditions and flood control? This is all about the budget; we spend the amount we budget, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. We have a list at the beginning of the year, the city manager and the street department decide what is to be paved – all parts of the city are considered with equity since we all pay the same tax rate.
3. Animal Control? We should come to a conclusion, this needs to be concluded. We need to bring all parties to the table – city, humane society, animal advisory board – and not talk about anything but that. You lose your voice if you’re not there.
4. City finances/budget? Annexation is the key to increased income; we’ll have to pay more taxes if we want more infrastructure. Our sales tax income is limited – the average per capita income in Texas is $37,000. In Alpine it’s $25,000. There isn’t the money here to spend.
Q. Any other statements you’d like to make? The mayor, as the charter says, follows the charter, the strength of the council is with the council; the mayor should organize the meeting. As good, functioning mayor, I must hold many opinions and feelings back. I expect the mayor to have limited influence on council decisions. I’d be extremely excited if I were elected; I think this is the greatest little city in Texas.
Age: 51
How long in Alpine: 27 years
Current Occupation: Carpenter
Born: Laredo, Texas Raised: Laredo
Schooled: High school in Laredo; College, Sul Ross State and Anglo State Universities
Career: Journalist for Laredo Times; painter and paper hanger; carpenter
Entered civic affairs: ran for city council 1987, not elected; Planning and Zoning Commission 1995-2003.
Q. Why are you running for mayor? I feel I’m the best qualified. I’m familiar with Alpine city government and can point the city in the right direction.
Q. What do you see as your qualifications for the job? Experience in city government and the ability to keep in touch with working people in Alpine.
Q. What do you see as the mayor’s role in city government? The Mayor’s role is strictly administrative – set agendas laid out by city charter. The mayor represents the city and citizens to give everyone a vote and to speak to council for all citizens and city manager on behalf of all citizens.
Q. What is your platform? Why should people vote for you? Many years as a citizen here. Plan growth keeping the charm, quality of life, ecology but create better paying jobs than the service sector has created, perhaps consulting or high-tech.
Q. What does the city need – your top 3 priorities? a) Improve deteriorating infrastructure, upgrade streets, sewer, water.
b) Improve quality of life with parks, animal shelter. c) Better paying jobs so people won’t be forced to move away.
Q. Where does the city government need improvement? How would you implement this? Revising and rewriting codes to keep up with technology and terminology (this can be gotten from the Texas Municipal League). Improving interdepartmental communication, for example having a number to call to be directed to an appropriate person. Organize departments into doing specific jobs, for example now you have to call the police department for a plumbing problem outside office hours.
Q. Would you speak to the four ongoing issues of:
1. Southside water problems? This improvement is in progress and under contract so the problem no longer exists. The construction should be monitored.
2. Street condition and flood control? Infrastructure is a long standing problem, funds need to be found, but I have no idea where there is funding. It’s the City Manager’s job to find money, grants or move funds from other departments. This needs to be addressed.
3. Animal Control? There is a problem with the pound location. We have to get everyone together. Property has been allocated; there might be a grant from the Texas Dept. of Agriculture. The animal Advisory Board, Humane Society and Council need to get on the same page and get it done.
4. City Finances/budget? Each year there is a past obligation when new items come up. We need to seek every grant and trim excess. Defining can be difficult – there are no miracle answers. Everything takes time – a great deal more than you think.
Q. Any other statements you’d like to make?People need to realize any elected official is a temporary caretaker. Anyone looking for fast change will be disappointed – it takes time, patience and a tremendous amount of effort.
Dallas Baxter lives in Alpine and loves it.
