Cedar Park City Council members are elected at large. Place 2 Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Corbin Van Arsdale is running unopposed. Place 4 Council Member Lowell Moore announced Jan. 28 he would not seek re-election, therefore leaving the seat open. Answers were edited to accommodate space constraints.

Cobby Caputo

512-917-1257 [email protected] http://cobby4cp.com www.facebook.com/cobbyforcp Twitter: @Cobby4CP

Profession: attorney in private practice for 28 years

Bio: Mary and I moved to Cedar Park in 1988. We raised three children here and now enjoy watching our daughter raise our grandson here. 

Since 1995 I have volunteered my time to help make the city better. I served on council for 11 years, chaired the 2015 Bond Task Force and two charter review commissions, and have served on the city’s Economic Development Corp. board since 2013. 

I enjoy CrossFit, bicycling and the Texas Stars, all here in Cedar Park.

Why are you running for Cedar Park City Council?

The City Council and staff have done a great job the past several years; I never felt a need to seek election to another term. However, when Council Member Lowell Moore decided to seek a different office, I decided to run for the open seat with his support. I will use my talents to keep Cedar Park the most successful city in the region. I believe my prior experience on council will allow me to step in and contribute right away.

What qualifications would you bring to the position?

I served on council from 1996-2002 and 2005-10—periods of rapid growth. While on council, we developed the comprehensive plan to guide future growth and development; attracted employers like ETS-Lindgren, Corvalent, and BMC-West; achieved the highest rating for our fire department; made our police department one of the best in Central Texas; built three regional parks; and negotiated projects such as Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, 1890 Ranch and Cedar Park Center. This experience makes me the most qualified candidate.

What are Cedar Park’s biggest challenges, and how would you address them?

Public safety is the most important function of the city. We need to make sure our men and women in uniform have the training, tools and equipment to keep us the safest city in the area. Additional major issues to address include attracting new employers to continue recent successes like Firefly Space Systems and Voltabox, partnering with the private sector to transform Bell Boulevard into a major destination, and lowering the property tax rate as other revenue sources increase.

Kaden Norton

916-412-5236 [email protected] www.votenorton.com Profession: attorney

Bio: Kaden and his wife, Dacia, have been married for nearly eight years, and they live in the Silverado Ranch neighborhood of Cedar Park. They attend Westover Hills Church of Christ. He is a principal attorney at the Cedar Park law firm Norton & Massingill PLLC, where he serves small businesses and families. Since moving to Cedar Park, Kaden has served the city on the city’s Community Development Corp., the Bond Advisory Task Force and the Bell Boulevard Redevelopment Work Group.

Why are you running for Cedar Park City Council?

The city is at a critical point in its history, and I have the energy and bold vision necessary to guide Cedar Park toward a bright future. The next several years will have a dramatic impact on Cedar Park’s trajectory and future. My history of service to the city on the Community Development Corp., Bond Advisory Task Force and Bell Boulevard Redevelopment Work Group, coupled with my passion for Cedar Park will encourage exciting growth and development in our community.

What qualifications would you bring to the position?

In addition to my history of service to Cedar Park, I bring a collaborative approach to leadership. During law school at Pepperdine University, I studied dispute resolution at the Straus Institute—the nation’s premier dispute-resolution school. I deployed dispute-resolution skills for the benefit of Texans while working for Sen. Charles Schwertner. If elected, my service to the city and my background in law and mediation will allow me to serve as a unifying member of City Council.

What are Cedar Park’s biggest challenges, and how would you address them?

Maintaining public safety, encouraging economic growth and ensuring the city is proactive in reducing traffic congestion are all critically important. While we can address all those issues, two specific challenges are reinvigorating Bell Boulevard—to create both a community gathering place and an economic engine—and reducing the city’s property tax rate to reflect the dramatic rise in property value increases. If elected, I’ll work to decrease the property tax rate and help build a better Bell Boulevard.