During the May 4 election, Leander voters will have the opportunity to support one of two candidates for Leander City Council Place 4.
Incumbent council member Na’Cole Thompson will be running for re-election and facing candidate Monica Roussel-Methena in the race.
Members of Leander City Council are elected at-large, meaning each member represents the entire city and all qualified voters in the city can cast a ballot in the race.
Early voting in the May 4 election runs from April 22-30.
Community Impact asked candidates to answer the questions provided in 75 words or less and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
*indicates incumbent
Monica Roussel-Methena
Experience:
MBA in management, project management, Chair of Leander Public Arts Commission, Charter Review Commission, Board of Adjustments
Occupation:
Director of Sales and Operations at HomeSmiles Austin
Candidate Website:
https://www.monica4leander.com
Why are you running for this position?
I grew up in France, and I always felt like there was a force stopping me from achieving my dreams. At 19, I moved to California and met my husband; but California is just like France now. While stationed in Singapore (my husband was US Navy) it solidified my love of America. Then we moved to Texas, this is it, this is where our children will grow up. And I mean to protect it.
If elected, what are your goals for the city of Leander?
Sustainable growth. We need to allow business development at a faster pace, build the infrastructure to support it, concurrently with support services like Police, Fire, utilities. But above all, water. We must find a long-term solution that doesn’t rely on Lake Travis. These are difficult long-term goals. They require creativity, perseverance, cooperation, and humility. I believe I have the training and character necessary to make it happen in partnership with our city staff and council.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing Leander and how would you work to address them?
WATER. There is no point in having more development if we can’t supply water. Now, BCRUA is getting repaired, all credit to the city staff and council. Thank you. But what happens when our lake runs low again? Which it will. Every year. We need a creative solution for that. Perhaps involve other cities, counties, even the state! We all need water, so we should all work together to make sure we have it.
How would you ensure infrastructure, such as water and roads, keeps up with population growth?
Water is the tough one, and as stated above it will require more than Lake Travis to supply our needs. So, we need to find it elsewhere. How? I don’t know. But I plan to make sure the city puts resources towards finding out and implementing a solid long-term plan. Infrastructure needs to be built in partnership with developers, account for expected growth in the planning stage, not after everything is built.
What role does the city play in managing and guiding development?
The city’s role is to ensure safe and up-to-code development. It needs to maximize sales-tax revenue potential while ensuring the infrastructure and safety of the city are maintained. I believe the city has a role in maintaining order and safety for residents, but not much more beyond that.
Na'Cole Thompson*
Experience:
Experienced Leader, Seasoned Professional, Longtime Resident, Business Owner, Trustworthy, Balanced, Community Oriented, Focused, Dependable, Collaborative
Occupation:
Local Small Business Owner, Leander Beauty Supply
Candidate Website:
https://nacolethompson.com
Why are you running for this position?
I’m running for my second term on the Leander City Council - Place 4 because I'm committed to Leander and want to continue the work of making decisions and advocating for what is in the best interest of our community and our city. I have proven my ability to lead and do the work of the city and I’m excited for an opportunity to continue to serve in this capacity.
If elected, what are your goals for the city of Leander?
My goals, should the voters re-elect me to my second term on the Leander City Council include 1) focus on long-term infrastructure planning and projects; 2) Increase support for small business programming; 3) continue funding and supporting Leander's public safety departments as they expand to meet the needs of our growing population; and 4) support our citizen’s quality of life by establishing a centralized database of local public resources for residents, especially those in crisis.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing Leander and how would you work to address them?
One challenge facing our city is maintaining an economic environment that encourages and supports midsize and large scale business development. I have worked to encourage this by voting on various projects designed to improve our infrastructure. Improving our water treatment facilities and increasing capacity helps to ensure that our city can support midsize and large scale employers who want to make Leander their corporate headquarters. This is a win for our residents, economy and city.
How would you ensure infrastructure, such as water and roads, keeps up with population growth?
With our rapid population growth and commercial development expansion, long term planning, conservation of our natural resources and exploring new technologies are key. Leander's proactive approach includes creating collaborative opportunities with energy providers like Atmos, PEC and LCRA, developers and the county and state to maintain and update infrastructure needs throughout our growing city. This approach ensures access to more resources, accountability and relevant communication which ultimately benefits our city and our residents.
What role does the city play in managing and guiding development?
The city plays a strategic role in managing and guiding development through ordinances, infrastructure projects, development services and the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan includes projected needs in transportation, infrastructure, parks, zoning, and public safety along with other categories. This plan is a guiding document and is reviewed and updated regularly. This allows the City to have strategic focus and flexibility to monitor and adjust goals and objectives as the needs of the city changes.
