Two candidates are competing in the May 2 local election for a soon-to-be vacant Place 1 seat on the Jersey Village City Council.
What you need to know
City Council Places 1, 4 and 5 are up for election, held by council members Drew Wasson, Connie Rossi and Jennifer McCrea, respectively.
The Place 1 candidate will need to secure a majority of votes will replace Wasson, who did not file to run for reelection. Jersey Village City Council members serve two-year terms.
Rossi is running unopposed to keep her Place 4 seat, according to Feb. 13 candidate filings. McCrea is also not seeking reelection.
April 2 is the last day to register to vote in time for the May 2 election. Early voting is scheduled for April 20-28, according to the Texas secretary of state’s website.
A quick note
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
What is your top priority for Jersey Village, if elected?
Our city’s emergency services are my top priority, which requires strong economic development to ensure our Police, Fire and EMS are properly funded through our local business’ sales tax revenue.
How will you ensure transparency and accountability in City Council decisions?
The city currently has a dedicated communications director in place that I will work with City Council and the city secretary to maintain. I support open communications with residents, encourage public participation in meetings, and believe decisions and financial information should be communicated clearly across multiple platforms.
What is the biggest challenge the city is facing today, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge is balancing economic growth with infrastructure needs while protecting the character of our community. Through proactive planning and competitive bidding, we can maintain utilities, roads, and walkways so Jersey Village stays ahead of problems instead of reacting later when costs are higher.
How should the city balance budget sustainability with investments in city infrastructure and amenities?
The city has developed a roadmap for economic development, future land use, preventive utility maintenance, and has secured property for a new municipal and community center. I will work with City Council to maintain strong financial reserves while prioritizing maintenance and infrastructure projects before issues arise.
How will you overcome differences of opinion on the future needs of the city?
Differences of opinion are inevitable. I will listen to residents, fellow council members, and the City Manager while focusing on costs, return on investment, and long-term data. My goal is to work toward practical, collaborative solutions that serve the best interests of Jersey Village.
What is your top priority for Jersey Village, if elected?
My top priority is fiscal responsibility. I’m going to use my experience in land development and construction to get the new City Hall remodeled and to build a city pool. The city currently wants to spend more than triple of what it should cost to re-model the new City Hall.
How will you ensure transparency and accountability in City Council decisions?
I plan to be transparent and hold our city accountable for fiscal responsibility. We overspent five million dollars on the nine million dollar budget for the golf clubhouse and convention center. If elected, I am going to request a forensic accountant and construction professional to review payments for that project.
What is the biggest challenge the city is facing today, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge the city faces is spending. The processes that our city uses to find vendors for construction projects are severely flawed and need to be fixed. We need to stop overspending.
How should the city balance budget sustainability with investments in city infrastructure and amenities?
The city needs to evaluate pricing for both infrastructure and amenities. This exercise will open up more dollars to spend on both or more dollars to save for the general fund.
How will you overcome differences of opinion on the future needs of the city?
One thing I learned a long time ago was, “I can’t give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure—try to please everyone.” There will always be differences of opinions. We just need to find common ground that we can move forward with.