Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere, a wealth management executive, is running for re-election as mayor, which holds Place 6 on the Plano City Council. LaRosiliere's challengers are Lily Bao, Bill Lisle III and Douglas Reeves. Plano voters will also consider candidates for places 2, 4 and 8 when they head to the polls on May 6. Before the election, Community Impact Newspaper sent LaRosiliere a series of questions on his candidacy. His written responses, edited for publication style, are below. Plano City Council Mayor Harry LaRosiliere[/caption]

Why are you running for Plano mayor?

I first ran for mayor of Plano on a platform of keeping city taxes low by encouraging economic development, keeping neighborhoods safe and rejuvenated. That was our vision and I'm grateful my neighbors entrusted me to carry it out. Here's what we have achieved. During my first term, we enjoyed major corporate relocations such as Toyota, Liberty Mutual, JP Morgan and FedEx, just to name a few. We cultivated the finest police force in the nation and Plano was again named the "Safest City in America" by Forbes. We established a neighborhood revitalization program called the Great Update Rebate that has already resulted in over $9 million of new homeowner investments to revitalize our mature areas. We did all this while lowering our tax rate for the first time in 15 years and hiring additional public safety officers. I am running for re-election as mayor of Plano because I believe we've made great strides in transforming Plano into a world-class city. I am committed to finishing the job and I hope I have earned the privilege of a second term.

Why are you qualified for this position?

I am qualified for this position for three reasons. Since moving here in 1994, I have prepared myself by learning about our community through countless hours of service to our local organizations—including two terms as a Plano City Council member. Second, I have an unbridled passion for helping families achieve the success they're reaching for. It's what drives me every day as mayor and a local financial adviser. Finally, very few can match my passion and desire to serve Plano—and no one will outwork me. I see being mayor as the highest level of community service, and I am driven push our city to the next level.

What is your platform?

I am committed to finishing what I started during my second term. My top goals for our Plano families are:
  • keeping our taxes low by diversifying our tax base through economic development;
  • assuring Plano remains the safest city in America and best-run in Texas by providing our public safety officers, first responders and staff the necessary resources to keep delivering excellence in service to our citizens;
  • and continuing the swift restoration of our roads and improvement of mature areas by investing in our street and neighborhoods.
We must manage our growth wisely to help our families and neighbors get to and from work safely and quickly. This how we can help deliver a high quality of life.
To learn more about LaRosiliere's re-election bid, visit his campaign website.