Wayne Becak and Jane Hughson are vying for San Marcos City Council Place 4. Becak was first elected to San Marcos City Council in 2011 and has served on the Executive Board of the Greater San Marcos Partnership. Hughson is seeking election to City Council after serving as co-chair of the Vision San Marcos committee that helped formulate the city's comprehensive plan in 2013. She currently serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Early voting for this race and others in the cities of Buda and San Marcos as well as 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.

1. Why are you running?

Hughson: I want to help shape future growth for my hometown so our fast-growing city will prosper and continue to be a great place to live. I will work to retain our quality of life as we expand our economy to create jobs with reasonable pay and benefits. We must protect our river and the environment which makes San Marcos such a desirable place to live. My extensive experience in public service will serve you well. We must be community stewards and plan responsible growth not just for our generation but for many generations to come.

Becak: I'm running for re-election because San Marcos is my home. My wife and I have children and grandchildren that live and go to school here. I want to see San Marcos grow and prosper in the years to come so that all of San Marcos's sons and daughters will have the opportunity for an excellent education, quality employment, and high quality of life. With more than 40 years experience as a community banker, I am uniquely qualified to help our city navigate the financial challenges of growth while maintaining a balanced budget and remaining faithful stewards of our public resources. As your councilman, my priorities include sound finances, efficient services, strong public safety, better roads, and economic prosperity.

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

Hughson: The rapid growth for which we are becoming famous. It will continue to be a challenge to keep up with the infrastructure needs for the newly developing areas. The people moving to San Marcos are not bringing water resources or pavement with them so we must be ready to provide it. We need to alter the ratio of single-family homes to apartments. There are housing developments just waiting to spring up and we are ready for them. The growth of the university which includes faculty and staff will continue to add to this challenge.

Becak: Economic development and job creation are the lifeblood of a growing city. Right now, the average household income is below most cities in our region and studies indicate that 70 percent of our students come from economically disadvantaged households. I work hard every day to attract new companies to San Marcos to create better paying local jobs for our families and economic prosperity for our community.

3. San Marcos has been named the fastest-growing city in the country for two consecutive years. What can be done to ensure that growth continues in a healthy, responsible way?

Hughson: Follow our comprehensive plan – Vision San Marcos: A River Runs Through Us. Many citizens spent their time to provide input during the year-long process. I chaired the Citizen Advisory Committee which compiled the information and the plan was consolidated by professional planning staff. It's an excellent plan and will be the over-arching element for all city plans to follow–transportation, parks, water, etc. The plan identifies preferred growth areas identified in three levels of intensity, areas of stability, activity nodes, and employment centers.

Becak: Our city must continue a balanced approach to development. We need economic growth to create opportunities for local businesses and higher paying jobs for our families. At the same time, we should help to facilitate growth that simultaneously complements the natural beauty and character of San Marcos and its natural resources. By working together in partnership with those who help to drive our city's economic engine, we can grow our city in a responsible way that preserves our quality of life while also securing our economic future.

4. Do you believe the city is too lax in regulating developments in close proximity to delicate environmental features (the river, recharge zones, etc)? Why or why not?

Hughson: We can do better and abiding by our comprehensive plan is good start. Each situation is unique. We must look at the science, the studies, and listen to the experts to determine the density of any area and see what makes sense. How much impervious cover we will allow is a key component. We must identify what will affect the river and to what degree. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is right here so we must involve them. All must be set in the new land development code to provide predictability and reliability to future developers.

Becak: It is important that we take a balanced approach to development that attracts higher paying jobs to our city while also preserving its natural beauty and resources. San Marcos meets or exceeds standards for environmental integrity set forth by every state and federal agency, including the EAA, TCEQ, USFG, EPA, and others. We are at the vanguard of river protection with a Habitat Conservation Plan that funds bank stabilization, litter removal, and water quality protection. This is part of what makes San Marcos an attractive home for the new businesses that will secure our economic future.

5. What can the city do to attract more high wage jobs?

Hughson: Be a community in which companies want to grow. Be a thriving community with great neighborhoods, beautiful environment, excellent educational institutions to provide job-training, all in a business-friendly atmosphere. When we offer tax incentives there must be jobs with reasonable pay and benefits in return. There are many options available to cities to provide incentives and all should be in our toolkit. The Greater San Marcos Partnership has the staff and the commitment to provide the outreach we need. We must remember that many jobs are created by the expansion of existing businesses so we must ensure they are included.

Becak: As a board member of the Greater San Marcos Partnership, which is dedicated to promoting economic growth and prosperity in San Marcos, I have worked to recruit eight new companies and nearly 200 new high wage jobs to our city over the past three years. I have also worked to promote homegrown jobs. Unfortunately, some quality employers look elsewhere because San Marcos presently lacks the high-end amenities and sufficient quality housing options that many companies prioritize when relocating. With the approval of responsible developments like Vista de los Santos, Paso Robles, and La Cima, our city is developing the well-rounded profile that quality employers demand. I want to build on our recent success to position our city for better jobs and future economic prosperity.