Williamson County Commissioner, Precinct 3 Choose 1
Comisionado del Condado, Precinto 3威廉姆森专员, 第 3 区Ủy Viên Quận, Khu Bầu Cử 3
Biographical Information
Campaign Website
http://www.valeriecovey.com
Qualifications: What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
My almost 18 years as Williamson County Commissioner Pct. 3 makes me uniquely qualified. I am also a CPA and use those skills to help balance the budget, pay down debt saving taxpayers over $100M.
Infrastructure: What are your top concerns and how do you plan to meet the infrastructure demands caused by development and demographic change?
I think we meet the needs of our growing community by following through on our long-range transportation and strategic plans. Residents expect to live in a safe community; this means continuing to build safe roads and providing excellent services. I supported a study to ensure the county's justice services are sufficient for the next 25 years and for max buildout in the FY 25 budget.
Housing: How would you improve housing affordability and reduce the number of people who are unhoused?
In early 2024, I supported an initiative to allocate ARPA funding to Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) to build micro-homes in Community First! Village which provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women experiencing chronic homelessness. I also support bringing in companies that will hire residents and pay a livable wage with benefits.
Water and Energy: How do you plan to assure current and future adequate year-round water and energy supplies?
Although Wilco does not provide utilities like water and electricity, I will continue to be a partner to those providing those utilities. I also supported a measure to make sure developers and incoming utility districts adequately show their ability to provide water through the platting process.
Biographical Information
Campaign Website
http://www.wesbenedict.com
Qualifications: What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
Since getting a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Texas and an MBA and engineering master’s from University of Michigan, I’ve worked and traveled throughout the world. I started as
Infrastructure: What are your top concerns and how do you plan to meet the infrastructure demands caused by development and demographic change?
County property taxes are too high, and the county is spending too much on everything, including infrastructure.
I want to cut taxes and spending enough so that the check you write for your property taxes gets smaller even when property values go up. We can do that by focusing on core services, cutting others, eliminating corporate welfare, and cutting expenses on non-violent drug offenses.
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Housing: How would you improve housing affordability and reduce the number of people who are unhoused?
We need to increase housing supply, and we need the county commissioners to stop subsidizing new businesses to move here which causes overcrowding.
Builders in a free-market environment will gladly build more affordable apartments. I’m disappointed when our well-off citizens oppose apartments for selfish reasons.
I support a rational but caring approach to our mentally ill and drug-addicted ho
Water and Energy: How do you plan to assure current and future adequate year-round water and energy supplies?
I’m for free markets and a level playing field for all businesses. Instead, the county has granted tax cuts for a few lucky corporations to entice them to move here while making everyone else pay higher taxes. That’ unfair, risks corruption, and crowds our schools and roads.
It would be easier to meet our water and energy needs if our county and state governments stopped subsidizing more busine