Lemoine Wright is running for the Grapevine City Council Place 3 seat in the May 4 general election. Wright faces opposing candidate Leon Leal. Incumbent Mike Lease is not seeking re-election. Community Impact Newspaper sent Wright a series of questions about his candidacy. This article is part of ongoing May 4 election coverage and does not constitute an endorsement of the candidate. His written responses, edited for publication style, are below.

Why did you decide to run for this office?

The Wright family has been doing business in Grapevine at the same location on Wall Street since about 1934. I have known many [former and current] council members. ... I have seen the continued success of Grapevine, which has happened due to good stewardship. I want to be a part of the team as we move forward so that I can be able to look back someday and say that I participated in making our special community even more so. It is time in my life that I give back to my community.

What experience — professionally or politically — do you have that would prepare you for this position?

I'm not a politician — I'm a businessman. My team and I have created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in Grapevine and throughout Texas. With my business experience, development experience and experience in infrastructure, I feel that I am capable of serving every neighborhood of our community. I have been involved in residential and commercial development in Grapevine and other surrounding cities all of my life. Our construction company is involved in water, sewer, and drainage construction for private developers, cities and other governmental agencies. This provides me with a broad knowledge of zoning, infrastructure improvements, contracting and bidding procedures [and] project administration. I also served two terms [as a city] council [member in Argyle, Texas] and about a year as the chairman of the [Argyle] Planning and Zoning Commission…as a way to give back to the community in which I was living at the time, which gave me insight into what it means to be a part of local government.

What do you think is one of the biggest issues facing Grapevine and how do you plan to address it on the City Council?

Public safety will always be my No. 1 issue. Our men and women with our police and fire departments deserve [the] utmost respect and attention from city hall and our citizens. We need to give them all the support they need to keep us [and] themselves safe. We need to continue progress in smart developments that promote good tax revenue [and] tourism, allowing us to continue keeping [property] tax rates low for our residents. The challenge is to do that in a way that does not negatively impact our residential neighborhoods. Parking is also an important issue today, especially in the Main Street area. I live on College Street, just off of Main Street, and have firsthand knowledge of the parking conditions. I will work with staff as we develop solutions that are good for both our city and our residents.

What else do you want voters to know about you?

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Judy, and we have a daughter and a son, [both of whom] work in our family business. My children and their families all live in Grapevine. We all have a deep love for Grapevine and our community. The Wright family has been in Grapevine since 1934, continuously doing business here. I am also related to the Lucas family, which has been part of the Grapevine business community since around 1850. I have a passion for Grapevine’s historical preservation. I have restored a commercial building on Main Street, along with my home on College Street. My son and I are currently working to restore the Wiggins House on College Street. I hope to continue to help preserve the history of Grapevine, while also helping our economy to grow. Our family and business also support the Education Foundation and Heritage Foundation, along with several other organizations dedicated to the success of Grapevine and our residents.