The Buda Chamber of Commerce hosted a City Council candidate forum Oct. 15 at City Hall. Growth and maintenance of Buda's "small-town feel" were subjects that were touched on throughout the night.

"The interstate area is going to grow and develop no matter what happens," said Jose Montoya, who is running unopposed for Sandra Tenorio's Place 3 seat. "Our challenge is to grow and develop the rest of Buda."

Montoya, who once served on the Zoning Board of Adjustments and currently serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission, said his goal is to keep Buda from "becoming another Round Rock or Kyle."

"We cannot sacrifice our sales tax revenue for the soul of Buda," Montoya said. "We are the last unspoiled area within 30 miles of downtown Austin. They are coming no matter what. But when they do come, they'll play by our rules."

George Haehn, who is facing incumbent Cathy Chilcote for the Place 4 seat, said managing the city's growth will require cooperation between the council, the Economic Development Corporation, TxDOT and the county.

"I have to take a look at the infrastructure needs of the businesses that want to locate along the I-35 corridor, but I would also have to require them to contribute to funds that would improve our parks and our hike and bike trails so that we have connectivity between businesses along I-35 as well as Stagecoach Village, City Park and downtown," Haehn said.

Chilcote agreed that management of the city's growth would require a concerted effort from various entities but said she wants to focus on implementing the citizens' vision.

"We have a documented vision," Chilcote said. "It hasn't changed since everyone got an opportunity to speak. We all want a revitalized downtown area. Well what does that mean? We have the overlay district, we have the historic district documented. We're going to stick to that vision no matter what, because I think it's the one thing everyone in town wants to see."

Chilcote said the EDC and the city are partnering to create a retail leakage report, and once that study is completed, public meetings will be held to hear more citizen input.

Jim Corry and Eileen Altmiller are facing off for Dawn Schaeffer's unexpired Place 5 seat.

Corry said many of the ordinances currently in place will dictate aspects such as landscaping and sidewalk placement, but he wants to maintain focus on ensuring that businesses along I-35 generate as much tax revenue as possible.

"We might be presented with certain desires of businesses that want to move [to I-35] or an industry that wants to move into that area, but we have to consider how much that is going to generate," Corry said. "How much are they going to contribute to our parks and our police and our fire [department] and the infrastructure of our town?"

Altmiller joked that she was running because her husband told her not to say a word about the city unless she was willing to run for public office.

"Buda is landlocked by many other [extraterritorial jurisdictions], so we need to make sure that every development decision we make is very carefully thought out," Altmiller said. "If we make a mistake, it's a 20-year mistake, so we need to be careful about that."

Early voting runs Oct. 22–Nov. 2 throughout Hays County. For a list of voting locations and times, visit the county's website.