Learn more about the candidates running for Westlake Town Council’s two at-large seats ahead of the May 7 election. Voters will choose two of three candidates.
City & CountyKeller - Roanoke - Northeast Fort Worth
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Learn more about the candidates running for Westlake Town Council’s two at-large seats ahead of the May 7 election. Voters will choose two of three candidates.
Why are you running for office?
KG: I feel that I can use my background and experiences to optimize our town and school's potential. I feel there is a real need in our community to manage and deliver future decisions in a timely and transparent manner, while listening to our residents and academic staff.
What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of Westlake?
KG: For the town, I believe it is to efficiently manage our overall growth, while maintaining the charm and appeal we all love. Estimates are we will grow from approximately 1,800 residents today to 7,000 by 2040. It is very important we manage it effectively. For the school, it is imperative to address the current management structure and facilities. As our town has grown and changed, so has Westlake Academy. We need a current, well-executed and fiscally responsible master plan based on future growth. It's time to implement the changes to make Westlake Academy reach its full potential.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
KG: My top priorities are: Improve the communication and transparency of information between the town council and our residents and school; separate town and school management; facilitate discussions and issues regarding developments and provide better communication to all residents; [and] implement and execute a comprehensive, fiscally responsible master plan for Westlake Academy.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the Westlake Town Council to explore?
KG: Livestream/video record town council meetings in a fiscally responsible way. Our town manager is currently responsible for managing the town and the school. I feel the time has come to separate the two jobs and allow Westlake Academy to have a full-time, dedicated executive director/superintendent who reports into the town council. This will give each entity its own voice and appropriate resources.
Why are you running for office?
AB: My reasons for running for re-election are to continue to bring balance and stability to our community, while ensuring Westlake's high standards for distinctive growth and development are maintained. Last May, we gained two new council members. It takes time to establish cohesive momentum in the midst of a vast learning curve. The wealth of institutional knowledge I have gained over the past eight years of serving our community in this role is vital to us achieving equilibrium and not stalling our progress.
What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of Westlake?
AB: Westlake is at a pivotal point in growth. New residents and businesses are pouring in. They are captured by our pastoral and natural beauty. However, I believe our low taxes and International Baccalaureate School, Westlake Academy, are also strong motivating factors in their decision to relocate here. This demands our approach must be exceptional in order to preserve natural beauty [and] achieve distinctive development while supporting the strong sales tax revenue that we enjoy.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
AB: 1. Continue encouraging our Westlake Academy leaders, teachers and staff to see beyond the success of our current program [and] explore new possibilities in the curriculum, capitalizing on new technologies and innovative methods of teaching. 2. Keep a laser focus on Westlake's Entrada development, ensuring the design standards and guidelines that our community demands are met as well as achieving that same level [of] excellence in restaurants, shops and business are offered. 3. Seek new opportunities to build a stronger sense of community for our residents and individual neighborhoods. 4. Continue to be a good steward over the relationships we are so blessed to have with our corporate partners and stakeholders.
Why are you running for office?
DQ: Our family has lived in Westlake for nearly nine years. Five of our children are enrolled in Westlake Academy, and our sixth will start kindergarten in 2023. My wife, Emma, attends Westlake Academy on a near daily basis, where she contributes her time in support of teachers who need extra help in the classroom or require personal days. As our sphere of involvement and interaction within Westlake has grown, so too has our ability to listen and respond to the differing needs of our community. I feel honored and very well positioned to be an advocate for so many voices.
What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of Westlake?
DQ: The town of Westlake was founded in 1956 with a population of 100 people. Today, it has become home to nearly 2,000 residents, while attracting large institutional employers, such as Fidelity, Schwab and Wells Fargo. Westlake Academy now caters to over 850 students in [grades] K-12. Our town has seen unprecedented growth over the past 15 years, and, by 2040, its population is anticipated to reach 7,000. Our biggest challenge will be to balance the inevitable growth in housing, corporate campuses, academia and commercial developments with the preservation of the town's natural beauty, green spaces and architectural uniqueness.
If elected, what would be your top priorities?
DQ: My top priorities for the town of Westlake are to carefully foster Westlake Academy and its IB heritage and culture, and to manage the exponential growth and development occurring in our town. This can only be done by listening to our residents, our teachers, our parents and our town staff and by attracting the necessary talent to town council.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the Westlake Town Council to explore?
AB: 1. Create a Best Life series of events to build and strengthen our sense of community. One example would be community table dinners featuring area chefs, local farmers and produce held in pop-up-style unique locations in Westlake. 2. Expand the focus on protecting our environment and landscape to include amazing practices like re-wilding. 3. We have rich resources in our residents that are completely untapped. I would like to create avenues for them to speak/teach at Westlake Academy. 4. Foster lifelong learner opportunities, such as community book club with a spin on learning a new language, cooking classes and more.
What are some new ideas or programs you would like the Westlake Town Council to explore?
DQ: There are many ideas that have been shared by residents, teachers, parents and staff. There is strong support to invest in Westlake Academy, including its aging infrastructure, athletic facilities and after-school clubs. We must provide additional support to our teachers and town staff, who work very hard to cater to the growth and ever-changing needs of our town. We need to work more closely with our development partners to ensure that our ambitious commercial and municipal projects remain on schedule and deliver upon the inspiring visions that have been laid out to us.