| 1. What are the top three issues facing Austin in your opinion? |
First and foremost, we have to begin planning responsibly for growth by coming together behind a common vision for our city and a new Comprehensive Plan that reflects that vision. Within that context we must address our top three issues:
Traffic congestion
Affordability
Water quality
|
| 2. What specific solution do you plan to implement as a Council Member to address the region's transportation problems? |
We must build a city in which we are less dependent on our automobiles. That means designing and funding a regional multi-modal comprehensive transportation system. It also means partnering with major employers and town center developers to create many more walkable mixed-use neighborhoods like Mueller.
|
| 3. What do you see as the proper role of the City of Austin in economic development? |
The city should use its powers of taxation, land entitlement, and bond financing to nurture specific clean industries and partner in creating mixed-use town centers in proximity to jobs so employees have the choice to live close to work in a home they can afford.
|
| 4. Do you support continuing the use of firm-based incentives as outlined in the City's Economic Development policy? |
In order to remain competitive, we must continue to use incentives and other forms of public/private partnerships to attract large employers in preferred industries such as renewable energy and biomedical technology to create a vital economy in which smaller local businesses can thrive.
|
| 5. Do you support the "Stop Domain Subsidies" charter amendment? |
I do not support the amendment because The Domain is precisely the kind of pubic/private partnership we must embrace if we are to build mixed-use neighborhoods that will become net tax contributors to the general fund. Incentives for strictly retail businesses are, however, usually not good policy.
|
| 6. Should the "Stop Domain Subsidies" charter amendment pass, the City will be able to arbitrarily terminate certain development agreements. How will you ensure that the City uphold a fair and predictable regulatory climate for businesses in the future? |
A deal is a deal, and we get on a slippery slope when we start finding excuses to get out of one. We must have the political will to honor our agreements, or there won't be more of them in the future. I will always vote to honor our agreements.
|
| 7. Do you support a possible charter amendment implementing single member districts? |
As we grow, our current system becomes strained. Single-member districts, strong mayor, and professional, appointed professional boards for our enterprises (such as Austin Energy) must be part of the broader conversation of how our form of government evolves and we should vote on all of them in 2010.
|
| 8. Describe what City program you think best illustrates your idea of an exemplary City service and explain why. |
The Mueller airport redevelopment is an exemplary project, because it serves as a working model for us to understand the regulatory, financial, and public/private partnering mechanisms that will allow us change the form of the city we are building from one defined by sprawl to one defined by town centers.
|
| 9. Who are three past or current leaders in Austin that serve as your model of leadership? |
- Betty Dunkerley for her financial oversight and for guiding the city to its AAA bond rating.
- Will Wynn for his leadership and pragmatic approach to growing in harmony with the environment.
- Kirk Watson for his unique ability to build consensus.
|
| 10. How are you qualified to serve as an Austin City Council Member? |
I am an urban planner with background in economics, business analysis, and four years on the Planning Commission, but I have enough small business real-world experience to know that at the end of the day, you have to have enough money in the bank to cover payroll on Friday.
|
