Reeves is challenging Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere’s re-election bid, as are candidates Bill Lisle III and Lily Bao.
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 Reeves a series of questions on his candidacy. His written responses, edited for clarity and publication style, are below.
Douglas Reeves is running for Plano mayor in the May 6 election.[/caption]Why are you running for Plano mayor?
I’m not engaging in hyperbole by stating this is the most important election in the history of Plano. Decisions made by the current leadership is chipping away at what has made Plano the vibrant suburban city that my family has lived in for 23 years. The Plano Tomorrow plan, found on the city website, is disastrous for our city. Plano has ceded control of zoning over to the federal government under the federal Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule. This is why we are seeing the high-density apartments being built all over Plano. It is not by coincidence that over 2,000 cities and counties across America have a comprehensive plan that requires them to build densified housing. This is from the top down—the Department of Housing and Urban Development—and it’s government overreach. This issue is so important that I included it on my campaign website.
As conservative commentator Stanley Kurtz writes in National Review, “AFFH gives the federal government a lever to re-engineer nearly every American neighborhood—imposing a preferred racial and ethnic composition, densifying housing, transportation, and business development in suburb and city alike, and weakening or casting aside the authority of local governments over core responsibilities, from zoning to transportation to education.”
On my website, I cite the example of Dubuque, Iowa, where this rule was fully implemented. Read how Dubuque was ruined by this rule.
Why are you qualified for this position?
My core values revolve around faith, family and freedom. I have been involved in community service working with people from all walks of life. I operated homes for people with drug and alcohol addictions and people with AIDS. I not only believe all life is precious; I’m an activist for all human life. I became an activist for bringing change to Child Protective Services after my 2-year-old granddaughter Grace Ford was murdered in Plano. I experienced firsthand how inept and mismanaged that agency is, and now consult with families that are involved with CPS. It can be overwhelming. I have been a successful business owner for 29 years and will employ common-sense decision making that we all use on a daily basis.
What is your platform?
For almost 30 years I have been an activist for good causes—helping people. If elected, I will be an activist for the citizens of Plano.
Too, I will join other council members in continuing to attract corporations to Plano. No single person on the council is responsible for Toyota, Liberty Mutual, JP Morgan and FedEx moving their headquarters to Plano. If you think this, I have some land in Plano that I would like to sell you—although you probably won’t buy it because they just raised the taxes on it again.
One wonders what Toyota, JP Morgan and other corporations must think regarding all the densified housing being constructed in Plano. Everyone knows this will ultimately lead to lowered property values, increased transit, increased crime, increased infrastructure costs, increased traffic congestion and overcrowding our excellent schools.
Property taxes will be a priority. Senate Bill 2 being proposed by the Texas Legislature will help solve the problem of our yearly increase in taxes. I cover this on my candidate website.
Also, keeping Plano suburban will be a priority. I have been a leader on this issue and will stand against federal government overreach. Plano needs a strong mayor. I solicit your vote on May 6.
