Length of residency in San Marcos: 16 years

Experience: small-business owner, board president of El Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos; former planning and zoning commissioner, parks and recreation board member, Main Street advisory board member, Blue Ribbon Bond committee chair, served on the San Marcos disaster recovery committee, served on economic development board.

Why are you running? 

I’m running to help unite and represent all aspects of our community. I’ve lived in San Marcos for 16 years with my family and have seen the bureaucracy and divisiveness of the city continue to grow since I’ve been here. I want all the citizens of San Marcos to feel heard and understood.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge of the city?       Our greatest challenge is housing. Our city must collaborate more aggressively to expedite the home building process. We need to identify more neighborhood sites and build a more diversified housing stock for our citizens. Why do you believe you’re the most qualified candidate? I’ve served on and led several city boards and commissions, and I own several businesses in San Marcos. I understand what it’s like to be a parent raising children here, what it’s like to be a Bobcat student and dad. I’ve had to come up with solutions to difficult situations even when I disagree. I deeply care for people, and I’m good at hearing all perspectives and then making a decision.

What do you believe the city should do to protect neighborhoods and have adequate housing for students?

Our current way is not working. Such stark zoning density variations within such close proximities shouldn’t be allowed. Fresh perspectives will provide fresh solutions to our years-old problem. We have to work tirelessly to ensure our master plan accurately reflects what our density goals are. Let’s have no more Band-Aids on this problem. Our students and residents are suffering.

 What do you believe the top priority should be as the city begins administering the $25 million disaster recovery grant from 2015's two floods?

First, make sure residents have recovered. Second, ensure emergency services are well equipped and funded. I had family in Houston when the storm hit our region. Unfortunately, Houston did not receive the same level of care our community provided our citizens. Finally, I would like to make sure we have all drainage options utilized.