The Woodlands Township will hold its annual election on May 12. This year, Position 1, 2, 3 and 4 are up for election. Running in the Position 1 race is the incumbent Claude Hunter. He is being challenged by Gordy Bunch and Henrietta Riddiford.

Each of this year's township board candidates were profiles in the May print edition of Community Impact Newspaper – The Woodlands. Below are additional comments by the Position 1 candidates.

Discuss your community involvement.

Hunter said he is a "full-time volunteer." Since 1997, Hunter has been involved in several community organizations in a variety of capacities. Hunter currently serves as Vice Chairman of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, and was previously vice president of The Woodlands Association from 2000 to 2010. Hunter has also served with The Woodlands Joint Powers Authority, The Woodlands Community Services Corporation, The Woodlands Fire Department Board, The Woodlands Recreation Center Board, the Development Review Committee, the Alden Bridge Residential Design Review Committee and the Alden Bridge Village Association.

Bunch serves on the American Heart Association board, takes part in the MS150 bike ride from Houston to Austin, volunteers for Interfaith of The Woodlands, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Coulson Tough Intermediate, and is a member The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

Riddiford: "Over the years, my volunteer service has centered on my son's activities and church needs. Last year, my neighborhood was impacted by a land use designation change passed without resident notification. It provided for construction of a Columbarium (depository for the dead) though neighbors requested a delay until a "Plan for the Master Plan" could be developed. This event prompted me to become involved in our governance, understanding our covenants and current issues."

How are you different from your opponents?

Hunter: "I am a full-time volunteer and that means full time. I am at the public service at least 360 days out of the year in one way, shape or form, whether that be through my website or answering emails. I have missed three days in 14 years that I wasn't in contact by email or in phone or in meetings. I am dedicated to serving the people. That is what I do and I have a wonderful family that lets me do that."

Bunch: "I've got actual experience as a government contract officer, and a federal officer. I took my initial $10,000 in capital and created The Woodlands Financial Group, the 15^th largest personal financial agency in the U.S., out of 38,000. I was a nominee for Entrepreneur of the Year. I received the National FEMA Agent of the Year award. I have built companies from scratch. I have six different companies, [that include] a finance company, marketing, insurance [and] software. Through ownership I know how to maximize personnel. I also know how to innovate delivery of services in today's world."

Riddiford: "Both of my opponents are businessmen. They've done things for a long time, and I'm sure they're very well versed in the area of business, even though I do have that background. I am a very people-oriented person. I listen to people very carefully. I have worked as a nurse, and served as staff nursing to administration. I have managed a $10 million budget. I listen very carefully to what is being said. I Don't respond to things without a great deal of thought."

What are some areas that you believe the Township could cut or save money?

Hunter said one service the township could possibly save money is through the contract with Omega Security service, which places the mounted patrol primarily throughout Town Center.

"The horses have some value in Town Center," Hunter said. "They are not law enforcement. How do you just having [the security] at one Wal-Mart and not both Wal-Marts? How many tourists come to our Wal-Mart and not the other Wal-Mart. This is not a petting zoo. This is a safety thing. I have made accurate [suggestions] where you can cut without cutting quality of service. We're talking 1 to 2 cents every year. We're not doing enough in that regard."

Bunch said one of the components he would consider evaluating is the use of the Town Center's water taxis.

"There is the water taxis that we need to be a little smarter with," Bunch said. "Right [they are] operating at a loss. I think there are ways we can work with residents to increase the utilization of the water taxis to bring the operation to a break-even or positive revenue stream."

Bunch suggested adding $5 to the yearly swimming pool passes residents pay in order to use the water taxis. Bunch also suggested re-working the township's 401K matching program for its employees and the amount the township budgets employee overtime wages, both of which he believes are too high.

"You will struggle to find anybody that has benefits that rich," Bunch said.

Riddiford: "I am not aware of the business the township is involved in. I think the water taxis need to be looked at very carefully. Their effectiveness needs to be address."

She said the Waterway Square fountain song program should also be evaluated, including the cost of the song program. Riddiford recommended utilizing "tech-savvy students for an extra-credit project" to create a program for the songs.

"The costs [of the program] can be overwhelming," she said. "I don't think we need to spend that much money to achieve a good product."

What are some areas you would like to see the Township fund?

Hunter: "The most important thing is public safety and that includes fire and police. We do need to [some refurbishing in the] fire department. Stations 2, 3 4 are a little bit old. The buildings are fine, the space is fine, but minor refurbishing is far less expensive than a replacement. We may have to do more in police [protection]. The other thing is mobility, and there are some things we do not have control over. Mobility is a concern, understanding about noise, but we mitigate that once we get some limited power."

Bunch said as the township's revenues continue to increase, more efforts should be made to decrease the property tax burden on its residents.

"The Woodlands is definitely growth-oriented. They need to find a way to reduce taxes more aggressively," Bunch said.

Riddiford "One of the things that I think really needs to be done by the township, is to make the citizens of the community much more informed. They do a reasonable job, but they could do a much better job. One of the problems we have is that we are very much a commuter city. People are leaving early in the morning, getting home early in the evening. We need to look at putting things on the website, which is done a little but not as affectively."

For more information about this year's township election, including polling locations and voting times, visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov