Elgin Courier Q&A

What made you want to run for this position? 

Noticing a disconnect between community members and the City of Elgin, I saw a need for increased relationship-building. As a city council representative, I aim to strengthen relationships between the City of Elgin, Ward 2 residents, and the wider Elgin community by helping to increase communication and transparency.

What kind of experience - educational, professional, or personal - do you bring to this position?

I’d like to list a bit of my experience:

• I’m a longtime Elgin, Texas resident of over 20 years and a Ward 2 resident for five years

• I’m co-owner of two small businesses in Elgin: The Clever Tiger Art Gallery and Jacks Coworking

• I sit on the Board of Directors for the Elgin Chamber of Commerce

• I also sit on the Board of Directors, for the Mary Christian Burleson Foundation

• I volunteer with the City of Elgin Main Street Board’s Design Committee

• I have a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University

• I also have a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University

• I’m a PhD in Leadership student with Our Lady of the Lake University

• I have leadership experience in grocery, social services, retail and non-profit management

But, most importantly, I have a genuine desire to serve our community and help guide it into a bright future for everyone.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the city of Elgin? 

The biggest challenge that the city of Elgin faces is managing inevitable growth while maintaining the friendly, small-town atmosphere that Elgin is known for and is such a big part of its economy and reputation.  

How do you expect the city of Elgin to adapt as Bastrop County’s population grows? Where do you see the city in five years?

I expect the city of Elgin to adapt by adopting smart growth policies, adapting and increasing amenities to meet an expanding population, all the while striving to maintain a small-town atmosphere. For example, keeping the historic area of downtown preserved and providing resources for small business owners and local farmers while helping larger corporations grow along the Highway 290 corridor. In five years, I see the city creating a positive example for other fast growing small towns by working with other regional partners to form cohesive policies that benefit everyone all the while working with citizens to address their growth-related needs.

What is one issue you want to fix or improve if you take office?

Focusing on recent events, one issue I’d like to tackle is improvement of city and community networking during disasters by establishing a direct line of communication with hyper-local resources such as non-profits, large equipment operators, grocers, local farmers, small businesses, and more.

Why should the voters choose you? What sets you apart from your opponent?

What sets me apart from my opponent is a high level of conscientiousness, creative thinking, and extensive project leadership experience from inception through completion with consideration of all stakeholders in our community. I believe my real-word and academic experience in leadership, development, project success, and community involvement make me the perfect candidate to represent my neighbors in Ward 2. Thank you.