Mike Sexton is running against Chad LaPrelle and George Dodson in the May 6 election. Mike Sexton is running against Chad LaPrelle and George Dodson in the May 6 election.[/caption] Mike Sexton, a small-business owner, is running for Colleyville City Council Place 4 in the May 6 election. Place 4 is currently held by Jody Short, whose term ends in May. Community Impact Newspaper sent Sexton a series of questions regarding his campaign. His written responses, edited for publication style, are below. 1. Why are you running for Colleyville City Council? I have been heavily involved with my son’s school for several years, and as that involvement has grown, so have my relationships with school faculty and parents. With this involvement, I have become more and more aware of the things that concern our school administrators and things that weigh on parents in both the schools and the community at large. The conversations stemming from these relationships sparked a keen interest in the plans our city has to address [on] the various issues concerning our citizens. This growing knowledge has opened my eyes to things our community does well as well as areas needing improvement. Furthermore, as my involvement and interest in the community grew, I realized that I don’t have to stand idly as others determine our future. I realized that I can affect change and together we can make a difference. In the meantime, I was also busy running my own small business. The evolution of my business eventually changed, providing an opportunity to sell, and affording me the time and flexibility to fully devote myself to our community in a larger capacity. I am running to have a voice in the future of our city. 2. If elected, what will you focus on? The past two years has increased our transparency, fiscal responsibility and accountability, undoing many of the issues in the past. We are now ready to step into the future. There are five years of capital improvement projects (CIP) planned as well as approximately $100 million worth of CIP that have been identified but not yet funded. It is imperative that we stay ahead of these public works projects; to do this, we must expand our tax base. Anyone can say they will fix the roads, drainage and parks but paying for these projects is easier said than done. I will be focused on strategic economic development that focuses on bringing professional business parks or corporate campuses to our city. This will bring jobs and consumers without adding the strain or density of additional residents. I would like to attract consumers to our city without destroying the small town-rural feel that the citizens cherish. Additionally, economic growth will also allow us the flexibility to continue to lower or manage our property tax [bills] while still actively funding the public works projects we desperately need. Maintaining our low debt as well as protecting our fiscal future will be the key to ensuring we "Keep Colleyville … Colleyville."
George Dodson and Chad LaPrelle have also filed for Place 4. Election day is from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 6, and early voting will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 24-29 and from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. May 1-2.