Editor’s note: Candidates for the District 4 City Council election to replace Brayden Rose, who is stepping down, were sent the following questions. Stephanie Ferran did not respond by our deadline.

What are your three top priorities and what will you do about them if elected?

I have major city-school-state experience working and solving these exact major challenges Lubbock is facing today!

Public safety

Public security, crime prevention, safeguarding our community, our families, our children, ISD’s students/staff, students at TTU, LCU, -Wayland, South Plains College, various trade and business schools and businesses that operate 24/7 in Lubbock  must be protected by our Lubbock police patrols, detectives and support command.

Goal: Increase classes and recruits. Increase salaries to be in top 10% percent of Texas, including increased salaries for LPD that make commitments staying 5+ years, 10+ years, 15+ years, 20+ years.

Increase Training 

Strategy: Realign the city budget to make financial commitments to achieve funding requirements. 

The Lubbock Fire Department currently operates on a 24/48 schedule, with firefighters working 24 hours on and 48 hours off. I favor a move to complete 24/72 schedule. 

gary boren

Firefighters: 

Goal: Increase classes and recruits. Increase salaries to be in top 10 percent of Texas, including increased salaries for command that make commitments staying 5+ years, 10+ years, 15+ years, 20 + years an investment 

Increase training classes and emergency health responses. 

The Lubbock Fire Department currently operates on a 24/48 schedule, with firefighters working 24 hours on and 48 hours off. 

I favor a move to complete 24/72 schedule. 

This would add a fourth shift. Validate the new model to reduce firefighters’ annual workload to create additional positions for a sprawling Lubbock community to protect safety of firefighters & ISO rating for lower insurance.  

Plan and build fire stations in exposed areas to maintain 4-minute response time.

Water supply and high utility rates

Making the budget reflect strategic strategies to gather water and solve our long-term challenges. 

Roads: Development, downtown development 

Critical to involve private sector to develop and solve these issues. 

Should the city reconsider impact fees or go forward with road bonds?

Impact fees: A big Lubbock, Texas no! Impact fees are a tax that only new construction homeowners pay. A City Hall tax gimmick targeting capital risk taking and entrepreneurs. 

Solutions:

Road bonds: Thoroughfares and main arterial roads studied and recommended by citizens based on critical growth. This builds our tax base.

Democracy: City Council receives recommendations. Citizens vote and approve after recommendations are narrowed to fit a progressive schedule to complete and achieve unified plans with financial restraints.

What letter grade would you give Lubbock’s police and fire departments and why that grade?

A+++ to our police and firefighters for putting their lives on the line to protect Lubbock, even with a shortage of competitive pay staffing and a growing population in Lubbock 

What’s your opinion about the city attracting AI hubs?

I agree with Governor Abbott:

No city incentives.

Protect resources – water and electricity rates (Lubbock already has the highest tier of Texas cities with highest rates).

Protect Lubbock’s 100-year water supply.

Protect Ogallala water basin.

Protect environment – noise pollution, etc.

ERCOT regulations to reduce electricity charges to community and not add additional fees/cost to Lubbock ratepayers. 

I agree with Mayor McBrayer – LEDA examine every proposal and line them up with critical criteria that the elected council has established to protect Lubbock. Then Planning and Zoning Commission review and make sure the entity conforms with our city’s land plan and use.  

I was a member of City Council that built Lubbock’s 100-year water supply. There’s more work to be done! We need to start planning for 150-year water supply for our city to meet the growth and also be ready to assist the smaller communities around Lubbock that are short on water.

gary boren

Are you satisfied with the city’s water plans, or is there more to be done?

No. I was a member of City Council that built Lubbock’s 100-year water supply. There’s more work to be done! We need to start planning for 150-year water supply for our city to meet the growth and also be ready to assist the smaller communities around Lubbock that are short on water. We also established a Water Commission to oversee our water supply and they are not being utilized. We need City Council involvement in Lake 7 to ensure no cost overruns. I’m the only candidate who has valuable experience in this area of Lubbock’s water supply and lake development.

Over the next four years, what kind of leadership talent does the city need to hire in terms of skills and philosophy of local government?

Citizen-first mentality: City operations should be highly accommodating, responsive and accountable to the taxpayer.

Proactive strategic planning: A commitment to long-term planning regarding infrastructure, water supply, utilities and economic development, ensuring the city remains competitive.

High-performance collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented internal culture that breaks down departmental kingdoms and emphasizes shared responsibility.

Ethical public service: Grounding all decision-making in personal integrity, transparency and accountability to the public.

What’s your opinion on business development and recruiting large employers to Lubbock?

I support the Lubbock Economic Development Association’s efforts to recruit larger businesses – working with Texas Tech to bring numerous good paying jobs to our city.

We need to work closely with Tech, our medical centers and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce to grow and help small businesses flourish in our city – eliminating regulations that are anti-business, keep utilities low and make working with city easy for businesses.

There has been pressure on the city to stay at the no-new-revenue rate. Where do you stand and why?

I always support no-new-revenue rate and have. Governor Rick Perry recognized Mayor Marc McDougal and me by putting us on the platform of the 2006 Legislative Opening Session and told the Senate and House you can offset appraisal taxes if you have elected representatives that believe and stay strong to their promises. No-new-revenue rate basically is “truth in taxation!” When appraisals so up – government tax rate should go down in a corresponding manner. If a government wants more money beyond that – put it on the agenda, make your case to the public and vote up or down to raise taxes.  

What quality-of-life issues would you advocate the city invest in and why?

Downtown development of the Civic Center/ Convention Center to benefit entertainment, business seminars, major state and out-of-state conventions that creates a boom in our local economy through hotel tax sales tax and purchase of goods & services. Support youth sports facilities and have the best facilities in Texas – basketball, volleyball, pickleball, tennis, concerts, youth seminars. Clean up our parks – add facilities, play equipment and support Parks and Recreation to make these parks safe and enjoyable. 

Is there an important issue that might force you to take an unpopular vote and why?

My values and major experience in city operations, government operations and state agencies has trained to me to deal with major issues that threaten our city. So I don’t know untll I have to face the challenges. My conservative pro-Lubbock values line up with our community easily. 

The candidates of District 4

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