Mark Skinner has filed for election to Colleyville City Council's mayor seat. He faces opposing candidate and incumbent Richard Newton in the upcoming May 4 general election. Community Impact Newspaper sent Skinner 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?

I have chosen to run for this office because I believe that the city of Colleyville should be an outstanding community partner locally, regionally and statewide. I would like to offer a different vision for the growth of our city that includes becoming an outstanding and supportive partner with the governmental and quasi-governmental entities operating in our region. I believe this responsibility starts at the top with the office of mayor. I have the leadership skills and experience to implement this strategic change. Colleyville will face significant challenges in the coming years, and how we approach sustainable solutions for those challenges will be critical. The methodology of the decision-making process is very important in the success of the effort. By hearing all voices and working closely with those who view these challenges from different perspectives, I believe we can make Colleyville the premiere city in North Texas.

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

I have extensive experience in the political arena. I was elected and served on the Colleyville City Council in 2003-05. I also ran in the 2014 Republican Primary for Senate District 10. I am well-versed in the political processes of state, county and local municipal government, and for the past several years I have been an advocate for sustainable fiscal responsibility in my city. As a veteran of a 35-year tenure commercial real estate broker in the Dallas and Fort Worth region, I have been creating value for my clients through economic development. That experience offers a unique perspective on city growth and infrastructure and prepares me well to effectively evaluate the issues associated with economic growth and to quickly find ways to solve problematic (sometimes unintended) issues that come with community growth and aging. I have a deep appreciation for the time and talent that it takes to successfully lead an organization in achieving its goals. I currently serve as the president of the Woodland Hills HOA board of directors here in Colleyville. This is the largest HOA in the city with 475 homes. I have served on this board for eight years. In addition, I serve on the board of directors for 6Stones, a highly recognized nonprofit organization serving the needs of Hurst-Euless-Bedford and surrounding cities in community redevelopment. I serve as a vice president for 2019, and I am the chairman-elect for the 2020 6Stones board of directors. I am actively involved in Cross City Church, where I serve on various committees and teach adult Bible classes. I am also in the final semester of a two-year Servant Approach Leadership Training program defining strategic principles of servant-minded leadership.

What do you think is one of the biggest issues facing Colleyville, and how do you plan to address it as the mayor?

Formulating a strategic and sustainable plan to address the population growth of the city and region, and the socio-economic demands created by that growth, will be one of the most significant challenges for Colleyville. This growth will place constantly increasing fiscal demands on Colleyville’s existing infrastructure, city services, transportation and public schools. Addressing these issues will require a visionary and creative leadership team that is capable of working together amiably with various governmental entities in efforts to find mutually agreeable and economically viable solutions.

What else do you want voters to know about you?

It is my goal to establish open and civil debate of the issues facing our city without the discord and divisiveness that has permeated the political process. This would be a nonpartisan effort unaffected by third-party special interest groups that focus on singular issues to the detriment of the balance of the community. By doing so we will encourage more qualified, service-minded individuals to seek opportunities in public service and municipal government without the fear of intimidation or harassment for expression of contrary points of view. I believe that working together produces a better outcome for all our citizens.