Jose Montoya[/caption]Retired from the Air Force, Jose Montoya has held the Place 3 seat on Buda City Council since November 2012. Also a former state employee, Montoya said he believes a diversity of housing options are needed in Buda to make the city more affordable for all income levels. The council member said he spent 20 years in the military managing large, logistical operations with multimillion-dollar budgets, experience he said will continue to be an asset on council. He answered the following questionnaire from Community Impact Newspaper:
Why are you running for a seat on Buda City Council?
Continue serving all the citizens of Buda with an independent voice. Ensure smart growth as the city expands while protecting our character and small-town charm. I am the only candidate for Place 3 who is actively engaged in city affairs. Since my arrival in Buda in November 2007, I have served on numerous boards and commissions. My 20 years of military experience managing large logistical operations with multimillion dollar budgets as well as my employment in Texas as a minority business contracting program director provide me with balanced insight on doing what is most beneficial for the city and all its citizens.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the city, and what would you do to address it?
Managing growth with limited water resources and attracting businesses that promote employment and bring more tax dollars to the city coffers. As we continue to grow, roads and infrastructure will continue to challenge the city. As a former member of the Buda Planning and Zoning Commission we constantly talked about the comprehensive plan and the unified development code and how these documents govern the Buda of the future. I am only one vote on the council, but I will do my utmost to make sure the council reflects the priorities and values of the taxpayers of Buda.
What is your stance on the hands-free ordinance Buda City Council passed this year? If you are not on council, how would you have voted?
The hands-free ordinance for mobile devices is necessary to protect all the citizens of this community. It is too easy to get distracted while driving by engaging your mobile device. It only takes a split-second to take your eyes off the road and cause bodily harm to yourself or others. We have to be on the constant lookout for pedestrians, cyclists and children playing in the street. This ordinance can hopefully save lives and property. I voted for this ordinance on the council.
How should the city move forward with its water supply options?
Several years ago, City Council and city staff were aware that Buda would incur a water shortage by 2017. The Electro Purification project was the only source that surfaced after an extensive search. After legislation was passed to bring the unregulated area into one of the water conservation districts, potential water sources appeared. As quoted in the Texas Government Insider Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, “Buda City Council members recently began reviewing a $400 million Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) plan to deliver surface water and groundwater from Gonzales County to the city. City officials are seeking an interim water supply until a project of the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency (HCPUA) to deliver water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer to communities along the Interstate 35 corridor becomes available in 2023, said Todd Ruge, the mayor of Buda. Earlier this year, city officials also approved a contract to deliver 1 million gallons of water a day from the Middle Trinity Aquifer. The new option from the GBRA is among eight or nine alternatives being considered by the city, Ruge said.”
What if anything should be done to make Buda a more affordable place in which to live?
Affordable housing is lacking in Buda. There are only three complexes in existence. Out of three, two are senior citizens’ complexes. City workers to include police and other citizens on fixed incomes cannot afford to live in Buda. Affordable housing proposals that compete for dollars from the Texas Housing Authority grants are not Section 8 projects that people mistake as low-income housing. Diversity in housing is necessary for a community to embrace all sorts of income levels, which contribute to the uniqueness of this wonderful city.
David Nuckels[/caption]South Texas native David Nuckels said he will utilize his 10-plus years of experience managing water resources if elected to council. A priority of Nuckels’ is securing the city’s future infrastructure, he said. A Buda resident for three years, he said this will be his first time running for public office. Nuckels said he would be an asset to the council and Buda citizens. He said he will listen to and be considerate of his constituents if elected. Nuckels responded to questions from Community Impact Newspaper.
Why are you running for a seat on Buda City Council?
I’m running for Buda City Council because I want to get involved in shaping the future of our city. We are at a transition point right now, and I want to help make decisions that will positively impact the residents of Buda. There are issues that are currently facing the city in which I have interest and experience that I feel would be an asset to the council and the citizens. I want to be actively involved with, listen to and be considerate of the desires of those I represent.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the city, and what would you do to address it?
I believe the biggest challenge facing Buda is managing the infrastructure needs due to the fast-paced growth we are currently experiencing, as well as the projected growth over the next two decades. Maintaining and expanding our roads, securing future water supplies, ensuring adequate stormwater drainage, and adding to existing city services like the fire and police departments are all tied in with building up the infrastructure to keep pace with the city as it grows.
What is your stance on the hands-free ordinance Buda City Council passed this year? If you are not on Council, how would you have voted?
I am in favor of the hands-free ordinance that was passed in Buda, and would have voted in favor of it if I were on the Buda City Council. We all need to play our part in keeping our community safe; pledging to drive hands-free and educating the next generation of drivers will have a positive impact for roadway safety. No call or text is worth a life. As a reminder, on Oct. 15 the ordinance will be fully enforced.
How should the city move forward with its water supply options?
Since Buda is sandwiched between our large neighbor to the north and competing interests in every other direction, maintaining and expanding our water supply is a daunting task. As I’ve learned in recent presentations by city staff, they have been tasked with this issue and have made significant strides in pursuing multiple avenues to secure water for our current and future needs. I would continue to support these efforts and vigorously continue to seek out new opportunities for our water supply options.
What if anything should be done to make Buda a more affordable place in which to live?
I do not believe that there is anything at this time I would do to make Buda a more affordable place to live. We are the fastest-growing city in Texas with a population greater than 10,000. Buda is also the fastest-growing city in our region. With this existing growth and future projections, it seems that we have the best value going on anywhere around us. The city of Buda currently offers the second lowest-tax rate in the area.
Basil Lombardo[/caption]Basil Lombardo, a Buda resident for six years, owns a small business. Lombardo has previously served on the Wimberley ISD board of trustees and the Hays Central Appraisal District board. Lombardo said he hopes to reduce the taxpayers’ burden if elected. He said he aims to cut unnecessary expenditures that are not in the best interest of the community. Additionally he said the city’s planning for natural resources, such as water, should take into consideration its neighbors. Lombardo responded to questions from Community Impact Newspaper.
Why are you running for a seat on Buda City Council?
I do not think the overall makeup of the current council represents the demographics of the community, and I think it would benefit the decision-making process of the council to have a view from a different perspective. I would also like to avoid Austin politics and philosophy creeping into Buda. I disagreed with the effort to bring subsidized housing into Buda, and I think we need to focus on reducing cost for everyone in the community not select groups.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the city, and what would you do to address it?
We need to keep Buda affordable and maintain the quality of the community. I think we need to maintain an approach on property taxes that reduces our overall tax burden. I would make an effort to get an additional homestead exemption passed before the next budget cycle. I would also focus on funding basic city services but looking hard at anything that increases the tax burden on the community.
What is your stance on the hands-free ordinance Buda City Council passed this year? If you had been on council, how would you have voted?
I do not support an additional ordinance for hands-free [devices]. With that being said, I believe that we should all avoid distracted driving. We have laws on the books for distracted driving, and I do not see any reason to put various forms of distracted driving in categories. If I run into you because I am driving and texting, eating, reading my mail or setting my radio stations, I am irresponsible regardless of the category.
How should the city move forward with its water supply options?
In reviewing current water issues and giving consideration to our current four wells regulated by the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, our purchases via Guadalupe Blanco River Authority and our pending Electro Purification contract, some of our neighbors seem to be ahead of us on water management. The agreement just signed by the council gives us access to surplus water from Kyle and San Marcos, so that, in my opinion, reflects better planning on their part versus ours. As of now we don’t know how the EP contract will work out but any planning needs to give consideration to our neighbors as well as Buda.
What if anything should be done to make Buda a more affordable place in which to live?
As I stated in a previous question, a reduction of homeowner’s tax burden via an additional homestead exemption would be an agenda item that I would ask the staff and council to look at. I consider it to be a priority of the city staff to focus on eliminating any expenses that are not in the best interest of the community. City services should be balanced with a consideration of cost and impact on quality-of-life issues. We should all feel obligated to spend our neighbors’ hard-earned tax money with care and consideration.
