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Incumbent Kevin Lacey is up against Casey Olson for Place 2 on Montgomery City Council in the upcoming May 7 local election. Get to know the candidates before the upcoming election with Q&As discussing qualifications and top priorities.
Early voting will start April 25 and end May 3. Applications for a vote-by-mail ballot must be submitted before April 26, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office.
Candidate responses have been edited for length, style and clarity.
*indicates incumbent
Why are you running for election?
I'm running again because the work still isn't finished. This city needs a council that's already on the battlefield and working on our issues. There simply isn't time to start from ground zero with folks that are inexperienced or simply an extension of the previous mayor's agenda.
What are the two biggest challenges the city faces in relation to growth, and how would you address them, if elected?
There is a clear hesitancy to make solid decisions within city staff. I am not sure if this is based on fear tactics applied from the outgoing mayor or if it is a lack of job responsibilities. The lack of clear decision-making ability leads to loads of miscommunications with developers and influences their desire to come into the city to do business. That coupled with the constant nickeling and dime-ing of every single thing for a developer [is a challenge].
What will be your top three priorities, if elected?
The [Montgomery Economic Development Corporation], fiscal responsibility and playgrounds
Why are you running for election?
I would like to help our great little town stay ahead of the growth that we are currently seeing. We need to be actively planning for the future infrastructure that is needed now. If we fall behind, it will increase costs down the road exponentially. We need to finish projects that have been planned and never started.
What are the two biggest challenges the city faces in relation to growth, and how would you address them, if elected?
[The two biggest challenges are the] lack of planning and understanding of what the current proposed growth will need and ensuring existing infrastructure keeps up with the proposed growth by developing existing streets and utilities to handle the new neighborhoods being proposed.
What will be your top three priorities, if elected?
Infrastructure, maintenance of current infrastructure and development of downtown Montgomery
