Cory Huddleston is running for the Place 6 seat on Grapevine City Council. Cory Huddleston is running for the Place 6 seat on Grapevine City Council.[/caption] Cory Huddleston, who owns a digital marketing and media company in Grapevine, is running for Grapevine City Council Place 6 in the May 6 election. Place 6 is currently held by Duff O' Dell, whose term ends in May. Community Impact Newspaper sent Huddleston a series of questions. His written responses, edited for publication style, are below. 1. Why are you running for Grapevine City Council? I am running because I believe this position deserves someone who can lead with vision, forward and critical thinking, business experience, and who will make decisions based on conservative and traditional values that made Grapevine the great city that it is. I have a young family and want to make sure that Grapevine remains a place that future generations will consider themselves blessed to call home. We have done a great job of stewarding Grapevine into a destination location known around the globe, and keeping it there will present new challenges that demand innovative solutions. This will not be done through taking the easy route and supporting issues that jeopardize the city like liquor stores or more apartments. 2. What makes you qualified for this position? Business experience: I own a digital marketing and media company in Grapevine, and because of that I have hands-on experience with budgeting, investing for ROI, vision and goal setting, time management, creative problem solving, continued innovation and resourcefulness. I understand the complexities of running and growing a business and having employees, which translates well into serving on the council. I understand the changes taking place in regards to the digital retail versus brick-and-mortar retail landscape and can be an asset as awareness of technologies becomes vital to the future of the city. Family man: I have been married eight years and have a 5-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter. This has taught me the value of what it means to have others depending on me and how important it is to live my life with integrity and character because we should strive to be the change we want to see. Seek wisdom: I surround myself with the smartest and wisest people I can. I give authority to a handful of trusted advisors and mentors to keep me in check and call me out if they see something in my life that is out of character. Serving: Having served in the leadership of Wingmen Ministries for the past nine years among various other volunteer and community outreach opportunities, I value opportunities to serve my community in meaningful and fruitful ways and understand the impact of what just one person can do when there is a clear vision and common purpose. Constant learning: I have taken the time to sit down with Mayor [William D.] Tate, current city council members, Commissioner Gary Fickes, many Grapevine businesses (of which I am one), Grapevine citizens and influencers, Community Outreach Center Officers on Mustang, etc., to find out as much as possible about current and future needs of the city so that I can be as informed as possible going in and focus on working with my fellow council members and the city manager as to how we can get things done with creative and innovative solutions. 3. If elected, what will you focus on? When I am elected, my immediate focus will be on:
  • Learning what I can about the unforeseen intricacies of how to run a city.
  • Finding innovative ways to increase sales tax revenue opportunities without jeopardizing the historic and unique character that we have worked so hard to preserve with things like apartments and liquor stores. These are the easy way out and our citizens deserve more.
  • Work with existing Grapevine businesses to create a climate for growth and innovation that will serve to provide more employment opportunities here locally.
  • Partner with organizations that are already doing great things in the city to help bring awareness to their efforts.
  • Equipping the next generation with opportunities to grow through entrepreneurship so that they can navigate and thrive in an uncertain future.
  • I want to see our elders being connected with younger generations to pass down wisdom and experience that only life experience can provide. I believe this will reinforce honor, character and humility in our younger generations and will give our elders life, meaning and purpose.
Incumbent Duff O'Dell has also filed for Place 6. Election day is May 6 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and early voting will run April 24-29 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 1-2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.