Within the race for Round Rock City Council, Place 2, there are two candidates. Incumbent Rene M. Flores is running against challenger Caitlin Leggett.
The interviews in the question and answer section of this voter guide have been edited for length and clarity.
Also included in this May voter guide are important dates to know and voter turnout histories for key election years in Williamson County.
Dates to Know
April 25: First day of early voting
April 26: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked)
May 3: Last day of early voting
May 7: Election day
May 7: Last day to receive ballot by mail (or May 9 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)
Historical voter turnout in Williamson County for May elections
2016: 4.80%, 13,506 ballots cast, 281,353 registered voters
2017: 9.71%, 25,429 ballots cast, 261,880 registered voters
2018: 6.49%, 20,006 ballots cast, 308,253 registered voters
2019: 8.35 %, 19,411 ballots cast, 232,452 registered voters
*2020: 75.64 %, 291,013 ballots cast, 385,065 registered voters
2021: 12.75%, 40,512 ballots cast, 317,836 registered voters
*May election delayed to November due to COVID-19
Rene M. Flores
Experience:
I am a 24-year resident of Round Rock who is completing my second term on City Council.
Occupation:
vice president and commercial lender at Amplify Credit Union
Candidate Website:
https://www.renemflores.com/
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
I will continue to leverage local and regional partnerships with regard to roads and infrastructure. I will stay focused on our main city priorities, including furthering economic development, improving transportation and mobility options, and securing rights for future water needs. I will provide continued support to our police and fire departments. I will enhance our park and recreation facilities and offerings. I will maintain our community events and celebrations and work hard to preserve the quality of life we have in this community.
How should Round Rock handle its ongoing growth?
City leaders need to plan, prepare, and understand that growth is going to happen. We need to review future land use plans, review existing transit programs and secure access for future water needs as we reach full build out. We must work to attract complimentary businesses to our community that offer strong wage potential for existing residents and our high school students who choose to enter the workforce immediately. We must partner with other local communities on regional issues and challenges.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for the city, and how will you improve it?
We need to protect and preserve our existing water sources as well as plan for a full buildout of the future Round Rock. We’re currently looking at water sources 25 and 30 years out. We need to figure out how to leverage regional partners to seek collective solutions for the benefit of not just Round Rock, but also residents in our surrounding communities. The easy solutions are gone, and the complex ones remain.
Caitlin Leggett
Experience:
I have 20 years experience in public advocacy and volunteer work.
Occupation:
Early childhood development and education professional
Candidate Website:
https://www.caitlinforourcommunity.com/
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
I'm concerned for our senior citizens and the pressure that tax inequity has placed on them. I want to review our appraisal districts and cap tax increases for homeowners over 65. I'm passionate about the future of our community. I believe that by creating opportunities for our youth we can reduce petty crimes and invest in our future. The longevity of our future is dependent on our ability to maintain our present and preserve our past.
How should Round Rock handle its ongoing growth?
The first and most important thing Round Rock needs to do is limit growth to what our infrastructure can support. Community development companies need to take an active role in contributing to the necessary adaptations that we need to make, and they need to be held financially accountable for any damage caused to our systems by a failure to comply with any restrictions placed on them or carelessness by their contractors.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for the city, and how will you improve it?
Round Rock is following the playbook that Austin wrote, and it's costing us our history, diversity, and identity. Our infrastructure is struggling, our citizens are being forced out of their homes, and corporations have been prioritized over people. Amid the fallout from Covid-19, our small businesses are struggling, yet we focus on advertising the corporate storefronts. I want to see "Made in Round Rock '' stamped everywhere. Products, produce, music, and film.
