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Two candidates are running for Friendswood City Council Position 6 in the upcoming May election.
The candidates are incumbent Brent Erenwert and Meg Crowley. Candidate responses may have been edited for length and clarity.
*Indicates incumbent
If elected, what will be your top three priorities?
My priorities have never changed from my roots. My goal it’s to continue to focus on helping continue to make Friendswood even greater, but most importantly ensuring people can afford to live here. My voting record has shown that I have voted for what is in the best interest for all of Friendswood.
What do you think the city needs to improve on?
This city is in the best direction we have seen it be in years. We are backed by an amazing staff and council. With so much on the horizon in our city, I feel that we just must continue to create infrastructure as we properly progress forward.
How do you plan on addressing concerns of flooding in the area?
The drainage bonds are in active mode. We have hired two amazing staff members to help us oversee these projects. We must now continue to explore and seek ways to partner with other municipalities and districts to maximize our flood mitigation dollars. If you look at the last three years of council, we have made more progress on drainage than this city has ever seen.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities?
Flood mitigation: Reduce existing flood risks by working to ensure proper watershed development in the Harris County Flood Control District and Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District. Traffic efficiency: Work on finding the best and most efficient way to extend Friendswood Parkway. Property tax base: Keep property tax rates low. Public safety and schools: Support our police department and schools to maintain our safe community and great schools.
What do you think the city needs to improve on?
The potential commercial tax revenue from downtown properties is not being fully realized. We need to continue the improvements in downtown Friendswood to maximize revenue from property and sales tax. The city needs to work closely with [the Texas Department of Transportation] to ensure traffic does not become problematic. The extension of Friendswood Parkway will provide relief for Friendswood Drive and provide another route for hurricane evacuation.
How do you plan on addressing concerns of flooding in the area?
[I will] work to ensure proper watershed development in the Harris County Flood Control District and Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District, with the focus being the downstream parts of Chigger, Mary’s and Cowart’s creeks that join Clear Creek in Friendswood (Galveston and Harris County). Several projects have begun, but we need to do more to continue to reduce flood risks affecting Friendswood. I would also support excavation projects to increase the capacity of regional detention sites.
