FERRIS CITY COUNCIL ELECTION MAY 4: The candidates speak
PLACE 2
MICHAEL MARTINEZ
Q: How long have you lived in the city of Ferris?
A: We arrived in Ferris right around Nov. 10, 2008. So, 10 years and few months.
Q: What are your ideas for growth in the city?
A: I am fascinated by growth, because growth is part of life’s evolutionary process.
It is imperative that we get open to this concept while having the capacity and skill to manage controlled growth.
A growth process in which we invite local as well as outside business to participate while contributing to our economic process.
Q: Do you believe in economic development for the city or do you want to keep Ferris the same?
A: I was one of the pioneers of the economic development strategic plan for the city about three years ago.
In there, we brought community and city leaders to help us do a need assessment. We completed it, but I do know that particular city council did nothing with it. It is probably sitting on a shelf somewhere in city hall.
Believe me, nothing stays the same. Either you embrace economic growth, or you will grow by default. Meaning in ways not be satisfactory to city management/city council and indirectly to our community.
The way we are building now is to just keep pace with other nearby cities.
I can see we do not have the negotiating intellectual capacity to effectively and beneficially to the city and residents – negotiate better contracts or arrangements.
In other words, to have the ability to negotiate growth while bringing in more revenue to the city in a timely fashion, not years from now.
Leave the long-term benefits to cities with “deeper pockets.” If one developer does not want to collaborate, move on with the next one – there is always somebody waiting and willing to work with you to do things together and not just for their benefit.
Q: If you do believe in economic development, why do you believe it is key for the city at this time and what ideas do you have?
A: Having been on the 4A Economic Development Board for five years, I do know of the needs the city of Ferris has to build economic reserves.
Working with commercial, industrial and housing developers is the key to strengthen our economic infrastructure and monetary reserves.
But we need to be more aggressive at negotiating these contracts. The economic benefits must work both ways and in an expeditious manner.
It is a spiritual law – you cannot give out of what you do not have.
Ferris’ current management continues to provide economic incentives we cannot afford. We need monetary reserves to meet the demands of our growing population, fix current streets, drainage systems, water and so many other issues that we continue to fall short before our constituents.
Q: What are some of the challenges you believe Ferris faces now?
A: The biggest one is our poor quality of water supply – our local downtown infrastructure is also inadequate, it needs cleaning up and much more attention to make it pleasant for visitors to enjoy and locals to “stick around” on weekends.
Q: How will you see your goals for the city accomplished?
A: I, on my own, do not see the light at the end of the tunnel.
We must experience radical and intelligent change at the city council level to be able to effect any change whatsoever.
Replace current management at city hall with one that has the people skills to work at all levels and not just with some people. Selective management has never been effective in the long run.
The term is two years. In two years, it is difficult to sell, implement and effectively see any ideas come to fruition. However, if all of us were to work as a team at the city council level, we would be able to provide transitional and meaningful information to new incoming members when we step down. If you make it beyond two years, there is a greater chance to see your ideas flourish or begin to take roots.
And, I will tell you that unless people make smarter voting choices in this upcoming elections, things will remain the same.
Q: What are your ideas for the ongoing water issues and improvement in this area?
A: I’d like to find out updated costs of getting water from various sources. Assess our monetary reserves and begin building them up to the level that we can purchase water. Perhaps financing the project would be another option.
Q: Why do you think you are the best person for the job on the city council?
A: I am just one of the persons who can bring change, not the only one. I think I am capable of working with others even when we disagree.
My strong financial and audit background of more than 22 years will help me better challenge the information the city management presents to city council – and hardly anybody questions – and this is unfortunately because of a lack of knowledge in that area.
The other reason is that I have strong business management experience. I have worked as a team member in the corporate world to turn around hospitals in financial distress.
10 years ago, we took over a meat market already in “the tank.” We applied many of the corporate concepts to this small business and it was turned around successfully. Years later we sold it!
I managed multimillion dollar budgets and consistently stayed within budget to achieve corporate objectives.
This should be done at the city level, but nobody makes the manager accountable for that. I will make sure this happens moving forward.
In late 2018, we purchased the Liberty Tax Services Franchise to better address our community needs. The numbers showed that we did not only address and capture the attention of our own residents, but also those from surrounding areas. Our success was way over expectations. Why? Because of our customer service approach. We are unbeatable in this area.
This energy and business model is missing in city hall. There is no quality and responsibility with what they do. There is lack of accountability in what they do.
I will help recover our city from that lack of enthusiasm and business approach where everybody is treated with courtesy, respect and integrity. I will bring the much needed transparency to our city management.
CINDY COUSINS ASPIN
(Cindy Aspin did not respond to the questions, but sent this information in for publication)
“I am a candidate for City Council Place 2.
I have lived in Ferris over 55 years, graduated Ferris ISD in 1979 with a “B” average.
I have owned a very successful business on Main Street from 1995 to 1999.
I currently serve on the Planning and Zoning Board and have since 2017.
I am here for the people of my hometown. I have some ideas that just might help Ferris to regain its small town feeling while growing for the better. It’s the quality of the town – not necessarily the numbers.
I promise to do my best and let God guide my steps.”
PLACE 3
BOBBY LINDSEY (incumbent)
(Did not respond to questions)
RUDY AMOR
Q: How long have you lived in the city of Ferris?
A: I have lived in Ferris 20+ years. I came to Ferris to raise my daughter as a single parent in a small country environment from New Braunfels in 1996.
Q: What are your ideas for growth in the city?
A: To plan and execute INTELLIGENT DEVELOPMENT – starting with internet, cable, clean water and a decent Police and Fire Station for the citizens of Ferris!
Q: Do you believe in economic development for the city or do you want to keep Ferris the same?
A: Totally, I believe in economic development for Ferris.
Q: What are some of the challenges you believe Ferris faces now?
A: Perception of infighting and lack of communication with alleged hidden agendas are challenges to economic progress in Ferris by those in authority. Economic development is coming – so it is best to stay on track and lead versus follow these advances.
Q: How will you see your goals for the city accomplished?
A: Team synergy. I believe in the team concept of working together to accomplish goals successfully.
Q: What are your ideas for the ongoing water issues and improvement in this area?
A: Let the developers share the expense of increasing quality and quantity of good water availability to include sewer line distribution. As a free bonus we get new streets with that initiative.
JOHN RILEY
Q: How long have you lived in the city of Ferris?
A: I have lived in the area since 1964. I’ve lived in Ferris for the last 35 years.
Q: What are your ideas for growth in the city?
A: The city is going to grow there is no doubt this will happen. I just want to see it grow in a responsible manner.
Q: Do you believe in economic development for the city or do you want to keep Ferris the same?
A: I do believe in economic development.
Q: If you do believe in economic development, why do you believe it is key for the city currently and what ideas do you have?
A: It is a must the economic development be handled in a controlled manner. Too much too fast will create a burden for all residents of the city. No growth will leave us further behind than we are now.
Q: What are some of the challenges you believe Ferris faces now?
A: Current challenges now for Ferris is water, sewerage, and streets. We need to improve these and make Ferris attractive to the rest of the world.
Q: How will you see your goals for the city accomplished?
A: One person cannot accomplish these goals. It will take three of the five council members to make change – and I hope I will be able to agree with two others and make things happen.
Q: Why do you think you are the best person for the job on the city council?
A: I have 30 years of management experience with various companies. I feel I can use that experience to make things happen in a positive way
TOMMY SCOTT
Q: How long have you lived in the city of Ferris?
A: I have lived in Ferris for 65 years.
Q: What are your ideas for growth in the city?
A: My idea to grow Ferris is to research on bringing an event center for adults and our children, which would also bring jobs and revenue to the city.
For instance, our children and adults in our community travel outside of Ferris to have events such as prom, parties and concert/music festivals.
Q: Do you believe in economic development for the city or do you want to keep Ferris the same?
A: I do believe in economic growth.
I believe when a city grows small business revenue then the citizens of Ferris benefit from growth. When we choose to continue to move forward in an open mindset to welcome new ideas and ventures into our beautiful small country town it allows us, the citizen of Ferris, to continue to progress into a newer future.
Q: If you do believe in economic development, why do you believe it is key for the city currently and what ideas do you have?
A: I believe growth is the key to Ferris.
I have watched our city start to grow – and stop as well.
We have a chance to bring good change into Ferris to allow ALL businesses to grow. We have new citizens and old who live in Ferris – and they deserve progressive change. Our children continue to graduate and become successful, however, they do not return to Ferris most of the time.
We need our community to grow with our older adults and the newer generation.
Some of the challenges we as citizens are facing with economic growth is unifying the community to agree on tough subjects such as budget and urban development.
Q: How will you see your goals for the city accomplished?
A: How I see my goals for our city accomplished include creating and working to achieve short term goals.
I understand being a part of an organization I need to work as a team to achieve a goal in helping Ferris grow – therefore, I would need the help of my community to be a part of the communication within Ferris at the city council meetings.
This is our city and I look forward to working and accomplishing these goals with everyone.
Q: What are your ideas for the ongoing water issues and improvement in this area?
A: Regarding the water issues – we need to have a plan such as contracting with an outside source who can provide us the best quality of water at a great price, is while research and development is done to make a better economic decision on improving the water.
Q: Why do you think you are the best person for the job on the city council?
A: It’s not a matter of being the best, however, it is what sets you apart and this is the passion I have for the city of Ferris. I will have great value, not only for growth, unity and fellowship towards our community, but I want to bring our city together. I believe in God, family and unity for all. I believe in Ferris, Texas!
PLACE 5
SHERIE CHAPMAN (incumbent)
Q: How long have you lived in the City of Ferris?
A: I have lived in the city of Ferris for the past five years. My parents moved to Ferris when I was 13, because my great-grandmother and grandmother lived here. I attended Junior High and High School in Ferris.
Q: What are your ideas for growth in the city?
A: There are so many pressing issues at hand.
We need a permanent residence for our police department and our fire department, and we need stations on both sides of the city so fire and police protection and assistance is not delayed – by a train going through town!
We need to begin work on the infrastructure. Our roads have taken a back seat, with a budget one year that was actually LESS THAN $2,000 to do road repairs. How can we do this when we are giving raises to our city manager that are more than our road budget a year?
Growth for the city will only be as good as the infrastructure to support growth.
Q: Do you believe in the economic development for the city or do you want to keep Ferris the same?
A: Economic growth is the mainstay of a community. Without it your tax base becomes stagnant and you remain unchangeable.
Yes, I believe in economic development – but the city council has got to make much better business decisions than it has in the past several years.
Before I was elected, the former council gave away SEVEN YEARS of city taxes back to the builder for just building the homes in Shaw Creek Phase I – that equates to over a $5,000,000 tax loss FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS!
And, as if this was not enough, our city manager last year gave $135,000 to the proposed builder of the planned Ferris Municipal Center – BEFORE the bond election.
Which failed – because our city manager gave out inaccurate information to our citizens concerning who and who wouldn’t be exempt from property taxes.
Bad management is the main reason there has not been more economic growth in the city to date.
Q: If you do believe in economic development, why do you believe it is key for the city currently and what ideas do you have?
A: Yes, I believe in economic development.
You have to have someone with excellent business sense to guide that. Ferris is lacking in that area – hopefully this election will change that.
In order to have a city growing you need someone to look at the big picture for growth, and yet preserve the infrastructure. This means finding a balance for growth and infrastructure. My heart is in the infrastructure, putting the tax-payers money to work for them – not having them take a back seat to growth.
Q: What are some of the challenges you believe Ferris faces now?
A: Bill Jordan is the city manager, and now (since Scott Jones was fired) the economic development director, the president of the 4A board, the president of the 4B board, the president of Unity in the Community, and works with the P&Z boards.
And he hasn’t done one of those jobs well.
Since the council voted 4-1 (I said no) to extend his contract for another year, I would ask Mr. Jordan to step down from most of those responsibilities – to do his job as city manager and delegate the rest.
Before you can make good economic decisions, you need to have the citizens input, the boards input. Without leadership, a city cannot develop economically or strategically – and no one person can run a city.
That has been our biggest struggle – putting out fires, and not concentrating on what’s important. And, our inability to retain city workers – our turnover of employees is a great challenge and must be corrected.
Q: How will you see your goals for the city accomplished?
A: First of all, they would not be my goals they would be the goals the citizens have brought forth.
You accomplish things by gathering your information. Making sure this information is true and accurate. You give details and then you have a council that is like minded and wants to see Ferris develop into a place senior friendly, family friendly, etc.
I would cooperate with my council members to bring forth the best possible ideas from all avenues to implement them into bringing better water to our city.
Q: What are your ideas for the ongoing water issues and improvement in this area?
A: I do not believe that water coming from across the street from a landfill is what we want for our citizens. Nor do I believe that paying $225,000 a year to Rocket to mix with that water is a feasible solution.
We have been offered water from Lancaster before, and turned it down. We could bring water from Dallas – we have options that would be far better than what is taking place now.
My idea is to seek out that Lancaster deal, to make it a reality so all citizens can have the same quality of water, especially since we all pay a water bill.
Q: Why do you think you are the best person for the job on the city council?
A: Because I am honest, I have integrity and I believe in letting the citizens know what is happening and how it directly or indirectly affects them.
I do not believe the council should go behind closed doors to discuss how to spend your tax dollars.
I do not believe in showing what can be perceived as favoritism to business owners – I believe everyone needs to follow the same set of rules.
I believe in fairness and equality for all citizens. In this day and age, it sets me apart, because there are no favors from this council woman to anyone. I follow the rules.
JENNIFER STANFORD
(Did not respond to questions)