Hutto Mayor, Place 3 and Place 6 on Hutto City Council are also up for election. Election day is May 4. Early voting is April 22-30.
Don Carlson
Occupation: vice president of finance and operations for OnePointe Solutions
Hometown: Bryan
Experience: finance and operations executive for an Elgin-based manufacturer, former firefighter/EMT
www.facebook.com/dcfhcc
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
Building Hutto’s commercial tax base, growing our transportation network and addressing our public safety needs for the future.
What uniquely qualifies you for this position?
As an executive of a consistently growing manufacturer that recently relocated, I have firsthand experience on what it takes to bring a business such as mine to a community. This experience includes real estate selection, infrastructure build-out, facility construction, and working with government entities regarding permitting and code compliance.
How should Hutto manage its growth?
Hutto must continue to grow our commercial tax base and decrease the reliance on homeowners. Currently, there is a lack of quality manufacturing space within the Austin area. If we have available real estate, the proper infrastructure and a business-friendly approach, we can attract countless businesses into the community.
What should Hutto’s infrastructure priorities be?
Hutto needs to focus its priorities on addressing undersized intersections and roadways that plague the daily commute of its citizens. We must also partner with Union Pacific for the development of a long-term plan to eliminate all railroad crossings within the city.
Peter Gordon
Occupation: project manager, Dell Technologies
Hometown: Hutto
Experience: 20 years project management experience, former small-business owner, hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science
www.facebook.com/gordonforhuttocitycouncil
What will be your top priorities if you are elected?
Fiscal responsibility (smart debt, conservation of funds), balanced growth (commercial and residential), leadership through service (responsive to voters).
What uniquely qualifies you for this position?
I am an 18-year resident of Hutto and have served over 10 years on the boards of directors for two homeowners associations, over half of those years as board president. I understand how deliberative bodies function and have the ability to drive to consensus in decision-making.
How should Hutto manage its growth?
Hutto has taken great strides in recent years to balance unprecedented residential growth with new commercial growth. I want this to continue and to do it in a way that won’t overburden taxpayers with unnecessary debt. We also need a wide variety of commercial businesses to diversify the tax base.
What should Hutto’s infrastructure priorities be?
Adding new roads and widening existing primary arteries should be prioritized. A new method of bypassing the train tracks east of town needs to be built within the next five years. We also need to manage our water rates by continuing to invest in our water system.
