First-term incumbent Jude Prather has drawn two challengers for the Place 2 City Council seat. An Iraq war veteran, Prather is the veteran services officer for Hays County. Mason Murphy, a Texas State University career counselor, has served on several boards and commissions in San Marcos. Thom Prentice is a former teacher and professor who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Mayor Daniel Guerrero in 2012.

Why are you running for San Marcos City Council?

Murphy: I want to focus on areas which include but are not limited to supporting small business, entrepreneurship and economic development; partnering with the K–16 education system to create practical solutions to concerns by utilizing nonprofits and churches; and supporting our firefighters, police, emergency medical services and veterans.

Prather: My motivation is to look back when it's done and see a better San Marcos. Three years ago I ran on a platform of getting "back to the basics," to focus our town resources on infrastructure improvements, which leads to economic growth and prosperity. Currently, there are numerous infrastructure projects, too many to list here, with the goal of improving our roads, bridges, sidewalks and parks. Now it's time to finish those basics.

Prentice: Reckless, out-of-control, unregulated growth and development is a symptom of reckless out-of-control, unregulated capitalism on Wall Street. What passes for capitalism in this country is a catastrophe. Out-of-control growth and development is the ideology of the cancer cell. We need to think in terms of economic democracy. Sustainable development is what should replace this desperate striving for growth at any cost. Building new neighborhoods and large apartment complexes around large central parks would be sustainable.

What is the greatest challenge facing the city?

Murphy: It is never easy to predict conflicts that may arise. Challenges are elements on a continuum. How I address those challenges is the most important thing. The process I will follow includes listening to citizens and making follow-up calls to citizens, researching issues beyond the packet meeting, asking thoughtful questions to those who present to council and making decisions in the best interest of the city and its residents.

Prather: San Marcos is currently blessed with record-breaking sales tax receipts, and this is a wonderful thing. However, we should never take any blessing for granted. With that being said, we must diversify our tax revenue. This can be done by investment in our infrastructure, which will encourage economic growth and create more jobs. We should especially encourage this along the east side of I-35 along the proposed FM 110, our eastern San Marcos loop.

Prentice: Thirty-eight percent of the people of San Marcos are poor—a horrific number. Economic development does not just mean sprawling, out-of-control residential and commercial growth. Economic development should also mean bringing employers to San Marcos, which will employ unemployed people already here. There is no future in turning the prairie east of I-35 into bedroom communities whose residents commute to Austin or San Antonio for work and who therefore will not shop locally.

Early voting for City Council elections in Buda and San Marcos as well as all other items on the November ballot begins Oct. 21 at the Hays County Government Center, 712 S. Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos. For information, visit www.co.hays.tx.us/elections.