Andrew Mitcham[/caption]Andrew Mitcham*
Occupation: executive information technology support coordinator
Mitcham has been a resident of Jersey Village since the age of 8, attending Post Elementary School and graduating from Jersey Village High School in 2001. He has served on Jersey Village City Council for one year.
Why are you running for Jersey Village City Council?
Jersey Village is my hometown. I chose to return and build a family with my wife. I love that our citizens can directly contact folks responsible for running the city and directly impact quality of life, public safety, spending and more. I witnessed this while serving on the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. I want to continue championing plan recommendations, particularly items that enhance Jersey Village's core values of family, public safety and fiscal responsibility, while also promoting projects that launch positive economic development that citizens have been asking for.
What do you think are the most important issues for the city moving forward?
Preparing for post-290 construction development. It is crucial that our city maintain a proactive role in this process. That means marketing economic development tools for current and prospective businesses, adding family-friendly amenities, improving aging facilities and crafting cohesive branding and signage to reflect our city’s hidden character. The challenge is doing all of this while preserving what already makes Jersey Village great.
*Incumbent
Jill Klein[/caption]Jill Klein
Occupation: scientist working for specialized engineering company Wyle
Klein has lived in Jersey Village for more than 25 years and has been a volunteer with various organizations, including the city’s Recreation and Events Committee. She served on both committees to update Carol Fox Park, and she has also served four terms on Jersey Village City Council, most recently in 2014.
Why are you running for Jersey Village City Council?
I served four terms on City Council and had not planned on running again. At the beginning of the year, I had people asking me if I was going to run and then others asking if I would run, so I decided to run again. I am running for council because I love Jersey Village and feel that I have a lot to contribute.
What do you think are the most important issues for the city moving forward?
I think the most important issues revolve around the Hwy. 290 expansion. Jersey Village has lost businesses and may lose more before Hwy. 290 is finished. The city needs to be proactive in getting those businesses back and in attracting new businesses to the city. Traffic, especially cut-through traffic, has increased because of the construction. Council needs to be prepared to address this difficult issue.
The candidates listed in this guide will be on the May 7 local election ballot in the communities defined by Community Impact Newspaper’s Cy-Fair coverage area. Only contested races are listed.
