Candidates Roland Saucedo, Atom Von Arndt, Griffin Spell and Lorenzo Gonzalez are running in the race for the San Marcos City Council Place 5 seat in the Nov. 5 general election.
A closer look
Community Impact reached out to the four candidates who will be on the ballot for the seat. The incumbent, Mark Gleason, has held the position since 2020 and is not running for re-election.
Gonzalez did not respond to the questionnaire.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
More information on what will be on the San Marcos ballot in the Nov. 5 general election can be found at www.hayscountytx.gov/elections.
Griffin Spell
Experience:
Vice chair, Planning & Zoning Commission. former chair, Historic Preservation Commission. former neighborhood commissioner
Occupation:
Management consultant
Candidate Website:
https://www.facebook.com/spell4sanmarcos
Contact Information:
281-678-1737
Why are you running?
I believe that there is an urgent need for new leaders with experience at City Hall. With the challenges we’ll be facing over the next few years, I’d like to bring my proven record of community leadership and problem solving as a Planning & Zoning commissioner to the council dais.
What is the most important issue facing residents, and how would you address it?
One of the most important issues is a lack of affordable housing. We need to bring additional housing to San Marcos, while protecting existing neighborhoods and the environment. As a Planning and Zoning commissioner I've voted for new single-family homes, apartments, townhomes, and other housing projects in San Marcos.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
We need to plan for the future, and make sure that as our city grows we don’t leave anyone behind or neglect our responsibilities. I support the addition of new firefighters, peace officers, and park marshals in our budget to support public safety and match our growing population.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
I want us to prioritize economic diversification, particularly bringing in manufacturing jobs that provide good wages. I want us to promote new housing projects, including homes for first-time homeowners, while protecting our existing neighborhoods and our environment. I also want to prioritize public safety, particularly in our parks and greenspace.
Roland Saucedo
Experience:
Served on various boards, commissions, committees and taskforces. Lifetime advocacy for community
Occupation:
Communications clerk
Contact Information:
512-938-2596
Why are you running?
I have worked many years campaigning for candidates once elected have failed to keep commitments to their constituency. Have spoken many times during citizen comment and public hearings and feel if I were part of the discussion on the dais I could be more effective as community advocate.
What is the most important issue facing residents, and how would you address it?
Workforce/affordable housing. I would work with council, city staff, and the community to create a partnership of developers, business community and agencies to implement initiatives to help create housing inventory and programs to help in affordable housing communities.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
Working with the community, stakeholders, business community, city council, city staff to ensure that proper planning and implementing strategic initiatives to be proactive and more cost effective and as to waiting to address growth once here and be reactive.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
If elected workforce/affordable housing historic preservation, and our beautiful river would be my top priorities. As I feel these are the most urgent concerns for us as citizens/residents of San Marcos.
Atom Von Arndt
Experience:
Current San Marcos Main Street Advisory Board appointee, 25 years of professional communication experience
Occupation:
Salesman
Contact Information:
737-213-7506
Why are you running?
I’m running because City Council should act as the voice of its citizens. The needs of the residents should come before the needs of Texas State University or the needs of housing developers, every single time. That does not seem to be the case under our current leadership.
What is the most important issue facing residents, and how would you address it?
The most important issue is affordability. Student housing is helping to push rent through the roof and inflation is pricing up everything else. We need developers to focus on affordable housing for everyone, no more shoddily made “dorms” with predatory leases!
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
We need to attract well paying jobs into our city limits. Our town is full of families and they should be able to work here and afford the rent! We need more grocery stores with more variety. HEB seems to forget that families live here at all.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
1) Stop development of purpose built student housing. They prey on the young and alienate families. 2) Hold landlords accountable for the conditions their tenants live in. Make this town a hard place for bad landlords to do business. 3) Focus on sustainable community gardens. Turn our parks into orchards!
Lorenzo Gonzalez
Experience:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Occupation:
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
Why are you running?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
What is the most important issue facing residents, and how would you address it?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
If elected, what would be your top three priorities?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire before press time.
