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City of Keller City Council Place 5

City councils in Texas each have specific responsibilities unique to their city. Duties of a city council generally include setting the tax rate, approving a budget, adopting local ordinances, and managing land transactions. City councils plan and oversee public services and facilities: police and fire protection; health and sanitation services; animal control; street construction and maintenance; garbage collection and disposal; transportation systems; recreational facilities; parking; airports; jails; parks and zoos; libraries and museums; hospitals and emergency services; building codes/zoning; and water and sewage service. City council members may also elect other municipal officers or appoint citizens to serve on boards and commissions.

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  • Candidate picture

    Ned Brown
    (N)

  • Candidate picture

    Ashley Stone Hernandez
    (N)

  • Candidate picture

    Chris Whatley
    (N)

Biographical Information

Education/Experience:

Why are you running for city council and how does your background prepare you for this office?

How would you ensure adequate, timely and comprehensive public input and transparency at city council meetings?

What policies, procedures and guidelines would you support to protect residents from discrimination in response to federal funding requirements related to DEI programs and language?

What level of cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would you or would you not support under 287(g)?

What are the most critical issues facing the city, and how will you address them?

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Occupation Self Employed
Business owner, community leader, and Keller resident. I’ve built and scaled multiple businesses, managed teams, budgets, and operations, and worked closely with local small businesses. I currently serve in community roles supporting economic development, local events, and family initiatives. My experience is rooted in problem solving, leadership, and consistency.
I am running because I care deeply about Keller and the families, small businesses, and first responders who make this community what it is. This is not about politics for me. It is about stewardship, listening, and making thoughtful decisions that reflect the people who live here.

As a business owner, I understand how decisions impact budgets, growth, and long-term sustainability. I have built, scaled, and led teams, which has given me real-world experience in accountability, problem solving,
I would support clear communication before and after meetings so residents understand what is on the agenda and why it matters. I believe public input should be easy to give, both in person and online. Transparency also means being visible outside council chambers, listening to residents regularly, and helping people see how their input connects to decisions being made.
I support policies that ensure every resident is treated fairly, respectfully, and equally under the law. Keller should comply with state and federal requirements while maintaining a focus on unity, transparency, and equal opportunity for all. The goal is to serve residents well without creating division.
Public safety is the priority. I support cooperation with federal agencies within the scope of the law, focused on addressing criminal activity and keeping our community safe. At the same time, I believe local resources should remain focused on serving Keller residents effectively and responsibly.
Keller’s key issues are managing growth responsibly, maintaining strong public safety, supporting local businesses, and preserving the character of our community. I will focus on thoughtful planning, competitive support for first responders, and decisions that reflect what residents want while protecting what makes Keller feel like Keller.
Campaign Phone 817-337-1882
Campaign Website http://www.votewhatley.com
Occupation Self employed business owner
Founder and owner of a successful entertianment production company since 1978. Native Texan since birth. Served on Planning & Zoning 2 years before being elected to City Council in 2017. Have served on City Council 9 years.
In my 9 years on council, we have lowered property taxes to an all-time low and increased the homestead exemption to the state maximum. We fully fund our first responders and have award winning police & fire departments. Keller is one of the safest and most "family friendly" cities in Texas. We've increased our parks and trails and invested wisely in infrastructure. Keller is a triple AAA bonded city. Keller needs my experience and abilities on council to keep moving in the right direction.
Every council meeting is televised. We have implemented "Keller Connect" a mobile phone app which keeps citizens updated in real time about events and happenings in Keller. Additionally, we regularly do citizen surveys for public input. In short, I will support our outstanding efforts to continue to keep our citizens actively engaged in city government
This is simply not an issue in Keller.
The city of Keller is part of the 287g program with U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement. If a person commits a class B crime in Keller (i.e.: drugs, prostitution, criminal trespass, theft) our police department does a back ground check and if found to be an illegal alien they are transported to the county and turned over to ICE. I supported Keller's involvement in the program.
Keller is at approximately 80% "build out". Our biggest challenge is to grow wisely, not overburdening our infrastructure, while still supplying our citizens with the quality of life they enjoy. This requires very disciplined fiscal responsibility of city council. We recently became a "self-insured" city, something I've been a supporter of for the past 6 years. This move has saved the city over a million dollars to date. I will continue to work to maintain this level of fiscal responsibility.