Place 6 incumbent Bobby Lane is Buda's longest-serving member of City Council. Lane will contend with longtime music booking agent Greg Henry, who opened a restaurant on Buda's Main Street in July, for a chance at another three-year term. Early voting for this race and others in the cities of Buda, San Marcos and Hays County takes place Oct. 20–Oct. 31. Election day is Nov. 4. For more information about voting times and locations, look for the election guide in the next issue of Community Impact Newspaper, out on Oct. 16.

Why are you running?

Henry: Having two daughters of my own and soon to be three stepdaughters in [Hays CISD], the safety of all children on our playgrounds and in our parks is one concern with the rapid growth of this amazing city. Buda is in need of young, fresh perspectives on how to keep up with the rapid pace of growth facing our city. I'm also running as a business owner that will have an open mind to future business that could help stimulate the Buda economy. I am someone who encourages entertainment diversity, which draws people to our community. I would like to see the city of Buda adopt fair enforcement [of code and ordinances] within the residential and business community versus selective enforcement. Most importantly, with the average age of this city, I think Buda needs to be looked at from a young family perspective.

Lane: [I am running] to continue with the work for the citizens of Buda to ensure the quality of life they have come to expect. I will continue the following: promoting public health and safety by ensuring adequate supplies of drinking water, expanding our capacity to treat wastewater, safe road improvements, and supporting police and emergency response capabilities. Our recent bond survey results indicated more than 80 percent of the citizens who responded support our bond program totaling approximately $50 million. This citizen support encouraged me to run for another term to help guide our city through this exciting time.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing the city?

Henry: I think Buda is growing so fast and [is] trying to keep up in the now. We should be thinking about what we need 10-, 20-plus years from [now] at the same time. [We should be] able to have the ability to keep up with the pace of growth, yet maintain a small-town personality.

Lane: Transportation. This is on several fronts: regional mobility, obtaining improvements to the state and county road systems surrounding Buda, partnering with Lone Star Rail to secure access to high-speed commuter rail service and seeking alternative transportation opportunities. Developing and implementing strategic solutions to our transportation needs will support the quality of life, [the reason] for which people want to become part of Buda. This takes strong efforts on the part of city staff and the council to build strong relationships with state and local leaders to build our transportation system.

Buda is growing at such a high rate that its population could reach 70,000 by 2040. What can be done to ensure that growth continues in a healthy, responsible way?

Henry: We are close to half of that now, according to the [the population living in Buda's unincorporated area] as well as the city limits, and it is only 2014. We need input not only from Buda, but the other areas around the city limits. [We need to] ensure that big business owners who want to come to Buda are here for the foreseeable future and contributing to the well-being of the city.

Lane: To facilitate and manage this type of growth requires us to continuously review our codes and ordinances to ensure that Buda grows and matures according to the desires of its citizens. Our citizens moved here for various reasons. As often heard, it is for the small-town feeling. The collaborative efforts we employ with our citizens serves as our guide to grow Buda as efficiently and effectively as possible while maintaining quality services.

What, if any, facilities upgrades would you have the council explore if elected—not counting the ones proposed in the November bond? Why?

Henry: I think we should make all areas of town user-friendly and business-friendly. I think the current proposal is a step in the right direction. [I] would like to see what other street/road improvements could be made on FM 967 as well as how to ensure traffic flow through downtown can be improved without hurting the small-town feel.

Lane: Lighting for the Sportsplex fields, exercise stations on the Stagecoach Park trail system, improved safety for pedestrian crossings on Main Street through downtown Buda and quiet zone railroad crossings through Buda to eliminate train horns.

How should the city balance the desire for more entertainment options with the family environment it hopes to promote?

Henry: I would say [the city can create a balance] by pulling in event planners that specialize in this. Buda would have to welcome businesses and event planners with open arms to help create such a vibe in town for everyone that lives here. [The city can] offer a balanced schedule where live music and family entertainment can co-exist. [It can also] encourage small businesses to open their establishments to support family outings but are also attractive to those who are looking for live music and a festival type of atmosphere.

Lane: The city of Buda in partnership with its Economic Development Corporation and our citizens can identify and encourage family-friendly businesses to expand their activities in Buda. There are a number of venues already in or near Buda such as the Hays Communities YMCA, baseball, softball and soccer programs, our parks and trails systems and live music venues in which families can participate and enjoy locally. We have built a strong foundation that can serve as the support to attract a variety of new entertainment options. We can also further refine our ordinances to expedite new business growth.