Q&A: Meet the candidates for Harris County ESD 9

What perspective will you bring to the role if elected as Harris County ESD No. 9 Commissioner?

As a lifelong Cy-Fair resident and 13 year volunteer firefighter, I’ve served our community through Hurricane Harvey, the COVID 19 pandemic, Winter Storm Uri, and countless emergencies that tested our department’s resiliency. As Commissioner, I’ll bring that same urgency, accountability, and preparedness to the board while championing transparency and responsible ...

What are the biggest challenges facing ESD 9?

Our district’s biggest challenges are maintaining adequate staffing, building eight new fire stations, sustaining 24/7 emergency services, and preparing for continued growth. We must invest in our people and equipment, improve efficiency, plan ahead, and ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely to deliver reliable 911 services our community expects ...

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Protect the First Responder: Invest in our firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and support staff with the training, equipment, and resources they need to succeed. Protect the Community: Maintain reliable fire and EMS services while preparing responsibly for Cy-Fair’s continued growth. Protect the Taxpayer: Promote responsible spending, transparency, and accountability in every ...

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

I will keep residents informed, listen to their concerns, and create meaningful opportunities for public input. Through transparent meetings, clear communication, and community outreach, residents should understand how decisions affect them and have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of our community.

What are your top priorities for the future growth within ESD 9?

My priorities are planning for growth, maintaining reliable fire and EMS coverage, and investing responsibly in personnel, equipment, and facilities. We must expand strategically, including future fire stations, while protecting taxpayers through responsible budgeting, transparency, and accountability. Growth should strengthen our emergency services, not compromise the reliable service our community ...

What perspective will you bring to the role if elected as Harris County ESD No. 9 Commissioner?

I bring four years of proven leadership, healthcare and business experience, and a record of following through. The priorities I shared with Community Impact in 2022—mental health, responsible tax relief and planning for growth—became actions during my first term. I intend to bring that same accountability to another term.

What are the biggest challenges facing ESD 9?

Cy-Fair’s continued growth requires expanding stations, staffing, apparatus and infrastructure while maintaining fiscal responsibility. We must recruit and retain exceptional members, protect their physical and mental health, and ensure the Department has the leadership, training and resources necessary to maintain the exceptional level of service our community expects.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My priorities remain our members, responsible growth and fiscal stewardship. In 2022, I pledged to prioritize mental health and pushed to establish THRIVE, a comprehensive mental-health and peer-support program for members and their families. We must continue building stations to meet our community’s growth and build a dedicated training center.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

Transparency means residents should understand what we are doing, what it costs and why it matters. I will continue listening to community concerns, encouraging public participation and making information accessible. Good decisions require facts, professional expertise and input from the residents whose emergency services and tax dollars we are entrusted ...

What are your top priorities for the future growth within ESD 9?

In 2022, I said growth required proactive planning and educated forecasting. That remains true. We must continue strategically planning stations, staffing, apparatus and funding before the need becomes an emergency. Growth should be data-driven, financially sustainable and ensure our members have the resources to serve Cy-Fair safely and effectively.

What perspective will you bring to the role if elected as Harris County ESD No. 9 Commissioner?

I know first-hand the fear and uncertainty when calling 9-1-1 for someone you love. As a Commissioner, I’ve paired that personal perspective with a commitment to listen, learn and ask what our responders need to deliver exceptional emergency response—and provide those resources quickly, responsibly and sustainably.

What are the biggest challenges facing ESD No. 9?

Growth. As Cy-Fair adds residents and development, emergency calls and demand for services are increasing. Our challenge is keeping emergency-service capacity ahead of that growth while navigating long lead times for new stations and apparatus, increasing workforce needs, employee safety, and the financial demands of sustaining excellent service over time.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Budget taxpayer dollars responsibly and plan ahead; deliver excellent, fast emergency response; provide transparency about performance, cost and results. I have prioritized retention of experienced employees at 93% or greater and filling at least 75% of vacancies within 75 days, while maintaining the high standards our community expects.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

As a commissioner, it’s important to remain accessible to both residents and employees and clearly explain important decisions with results. I intend to also introduce an annual District Town Hall where district stakeholders can ask questions and have conversations directly with elected representatives about their emergency-services, growth, staffing, capital projects ...

What are your top priorities for the future growth within Harris County ESD No. 9?

Twenty years as a CEO managing complex budgets and capital investments reinforces my commitment to long-range planning. Six (6) additional stations by 2030, fully-staffed and equipped with the necessary apparatus and resources, while preserving excellent emergency response and avoiding costly last-minute decisions.

What perspective will you bring to the role if elected as Harris County ESD No. 9 Commissioner?

I will bring an independent voice, ask questions, examine the facts, and put public safety and long-term interests of Cy-Fair taxpayers first.

What are the biggest challenges facing ESD No. 9?

The district must keep pace with population growth and emergency-service demand while responsibly managing staffing, facilities, equipment and long-term costs. It must also maintain public confidence through transparent decision-making, consistent performance standards, fair personnel processes and clear accountability for how taxpayer resources are used.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

My priorities would be reliable fire and EMS readiness, responsible financial stewardship, transparent contracting and budgeting, measurable leadership accountability, consistent personnel policies and workforce support. I would also review major policies, audits, operational risks and capital commitments to ensure decisions support frontline performance and protect taxpayers.

How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?

I would support accessible meeting information, timely publication of supporting documents, understandable financial reporting and meaningful opportunities for public comment. I would also encourage community forums and direct communication with residents so commissioners hear concerns before major policy, tax, construction or service decisions are finalized.

What are your top priorities for the future growth within Harris County ESD No. 9?

My priorities are strategically located stations, sufficient personnel and equipment, reliable 911 communications and emergency dispatch, competitive workforce development, and sustainable financing that protects both emergency readiness and taxpayers.