[caption id="attachment_230984" align="alignright" width="220"] Michael Jones[/caption] Michael Jones is running for the at-large seat in the upcoming McKinney City Council election. Jones is running against Charlie Philips, Kevin M. Smallwood, Thomas “TJ” Reilly and Derek Baker. Current at-large representative Randy Pogue has decided to not to seek re-election to the seat, and instead will run for the mayor’s seat. Early voting begins April 24, and election day is May 6.

Occupation:

Vice president of commercial lending for a Texas-based bank

Why are you running for McKinney City Council?

I’ve been a registered voter in this community since 2004 and my wife and I built our first home here in 2012. As McKinney continues to grow, I believe with my background in business and finance will be of value to the city. McKinney is a great place to call home. I’m running because I want to expand on what the prior city council has in place and help this community plan well ahead for its future.

What issues do you feel the city will face within the next few years?

• Infrastructure
• Commercial development
• Public safety

If elected, how would you address those issues?

• Infrastructure: Staying ahead of infrastructure needs of the city will be my primary focus if I’m elected. This is one area that the city needs to be proactive in development. The city’s strategic grow plan is scheduled to be completed in May before I would take office. I would accelerate the infrastructure development needs that come out of that plan. Whether its road improvement or utility expansion, this is a driving force in attracting companies to move to McKinney. We need to ensure our infrastructure is primed for growth.
• Commercial development: I would continue to attract new commercial developers and corporations to the area. I would work with the council and city manager to streamline the permitting and inspection process. We need to accelerate current developments like the Gateway project. By increasing the commercial tax base, we can continue to manage and develop the city without putting most of the tax burden on the citizens. I would also focus on career growth, and not just job growth in our community. We need to encourage companies with higher paying jobs to come to the community so more professionals will work, live and play in McKinney.
• Public safety: I would evaluate the current employment and salary needs of our public safety officers. We need to ensure our police and fire departments are up to date with technology and equipment, which will help reduce the overall operating costs for our public services. I want to make sure we are doing what’s necessary to retain and expand our great staff.

What qualifications do you possess that make you a prime candidate for the position?

I’m the current president of my homeowners association. I volunteer with Junior Achievement, a non-profit agency geared towards teaching kindergarteners through 12th-graders work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. I have a bachelor’s degree in finance and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Dallas. Recruited right out of college, I worked for one of the largest companies in the world, General Electric. My career there accelerated from being a financial auditor to portfolio manager and finally relationship management. Currently, I’m a commercial banker, where I evaluate companies of all sizes and help them with their growth needs. My business background directly correlates with how I will help manage the budget, improve our infrastructure and responsibly grow McKinney.