Campaign Phone
832-584-1022
I sit on multiple committees through Bay Area Economic Partnership such as their political protocol committee and healthcare committee. I am well informed on local, state and federal issues through my relationships with multiple chamber of commerce's, mayors, senators, congressman and state representatives and their district directors. I am a member of the local Drainage Committee and receive vital information of flood mitigation plans for our area.
Safety and Communication are my biggest concerns.
Safety: small motorized bikes and scooter training for children and parents. Partner with the police department for solutions to make the rider and residents feel safe. Bring back disaster preparedness meetings for hurricanes, freezes and other disasters by partnering with Precinct 2, FEMA and our emergency manager. Install the generator at city hall so it can be used during emergencies for our aging population and others in case of disasters.
Communication: increase updates during disasters by partnering with the emergency manager and assisting him with updating the residents. Host a “State of the City” so residents can be informed on city issues such as police, fire and updates on infrastructure projects. Have the city council meetings live-steam or recorded so individuals that are unable to make the meetings due to family obligations, work or mobility issues can still be informed on city issues and resolutions.
City infrastructure - roadways, sidewalks, updated signage and parks.
This will help keep up with the long term growth and needs of our residents.
Over this last year, I have actively worked on growing my connections and relationships outside the City; through the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership organization and the Space Center Rotary. I have worked hard to gain beneficial knowledge to bring home so that I can serve El Lago with excellence.
Though I didn't win last year's election, I have continued to gain insight and a deeper understanding of the inner workings of our City - by showing up.
You can count on me to show up for you.
Professionally, I am a state certified real estate appraiser with twenty years experience, eleven of those as owner of JLS Appraisals. Being self-employed, requires a high level of organization and proficiency at managing government regulations requiring regular interactions with FHA, Fannie Mae, and city planning departments. One of the best parts of my job is the interactions I have with people from all walks of life. Personally, I've been an El Lago resident for 20 years.
I think the biggest single issue for El Lago currently is the budget. The city operates with very little margin and will struggle to maintain the current level of services without raising taxes. I also foresee that with the state legislature making more tax concessions around property values that this problem will continue to compound. I hope to be able to diligently examine the budget and find ways to reduce spending without reducing services.
Another issue that concerns me is homeowners / flood insurance for our citizens. Homeowners insurance is becoming harder to secure and far more expensive than it has been in the past and I would like to see what the city can do to help with the situation as I know it is a factor that is negatively impacting property values in the city. Flood insurance is something the city very much has an impact on and I would like to continue the work already done to ensure the best risk ratings possible for our residents.
As I stated previously, the budget is the single greatest concern and therefore any additional funds should first be allocated to those areas of the budget that need the most attention. If there are no specific financial needs in the current budget then I would prefer to hold the money in reserves or even place it in an interest-bearing account to act as a buffer for any future financial needs the city may have. This would minimize the potential for any future tax increases.
I hope to continue the community outreach started by the current council. I would like to find ways to engage more citizens in city affairs. Anytime more citizens participate we build a stronger community. Most of my free time is spent in my garden and I appreciate the steps the city has taken to beautify the parks by planting trees and starting pollinator gardens. I would like to expand on these efforts in order to inspire others to nurture and enjoy the nature around us all. Mostly, I would like to give back to the city that has supported my wife and I as we have raised our four kids. I appreciate the work our past and present council members have done and feel it’s my turn to step up and help.
