Round Rock City Councilman George White announced his bid and filing for re-election to Place 2 on Jan. 30. Place 6 member and Mayor Pro Tem Kris Whitfield has also confirmed a bid for re-election.
White has served on the council since 2008 and is also involved with boards for the YMCA of Williamson County, St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, the Round Rock Community Center, the Round Rock Rotary Club and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He represents Round Rock with the Rural Capitol Area Work Force Solutions and leads its business committee. In the past, he has served as president of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority and was voted Round Rock Citizen of the Year in 2005.
If re-elected, White hopes to continue Round Rock's focus on the future by watching city revenue and spending as well as increasing infrastructure and economic development with projects such as the construction of a sports complex.
"I think we need to keep a very vigilant posture in watching sales tax revenues and watching city spending," White said. [Also] dealing with infrastructure, particularly roads and utilities; we have a number of roads that we've built for the past few years ... we need to focus now on the west side of [I-35]. Overriding all of that is just maintaining our quality of life that we've managed to build up."
Whitfield was elected to the council in 2007 and appointed mayor pro tem in June 2012. She currently serves on boards for organizations including the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, BCRUA, the Round Rock ISD Education Foundation, YMCA of Greater Williamson County, YMCA Twin Lakes, Round Rock Area Arts Council, Round Rock Symphony and Women Impacting the Nation. She has been involved with the Heart of Round Rock Neighborhood Association, the Round Rock Rotary Club and the Penfold Theater Group. Whitfield studied at Abilene Christian University and Hardin-Simmons College before moving to Round Rock in 1992.
If re-elected, Whitfield said she will be focusing on preserving Round Rock's past, even as the city moves into new projects and construction.
"I think one of the key things for Round Rock, we've really focused on bringing new companies in ... and I think a lot of the progress moving forward is preserving our old stuff," Whitfield said. "I'm personally focusing on the All Abilities Park, there's now a need for sports fields for children with disabilities. I'm also working on the re-creation of Kenney Fort."
Filing for City Council places 2 and 6 ends March 1. Applications can be submitted to the city clerk's office at 231 E. Main St., Round Rock, Texas, 78664. The election will be held May 11.