Even though the filing period to run for City Council was not yet closed, the San Angelo Realtor’s Association got the first look at some of the candidates for Mayor and City Council at their February luncheon last Thursday February 28. The San Angelo Association of REALTORS® (SAAR) is a professional association of real estate professionals, brokers and real estate agents in San Angelo. The association has over 500 members. Lynsey Flage, Association Executive said that their members recognized the importance of staying engaged with our elected officials. The February Luncheon had over 100 REALTORS®, Affiliates, and guests. Flage said this demonstrated, the members’ commitment to staying informed and engaged in shaping the future of the City of San Angelo and our community.
During the luncheon, candidates were given five minutes to introduces themselves. There was no time for questions or debate. The candidates spoke in alphabetical order.
San Angelo Mayor Candidates
Juan Acevedo
Juan Acevedo is originally from Del Rio, Texas. While still living in Del Rio he served on the local school board for a number of years. His priorities are to address infrastructure, including roads and water supply. He is an advocate for community engagement and wants to hold regular town hall meeting. He says he is running to represent everyone and wants to serve the needs of the citizens.
Carlos Hernandez
Mr. Hernandez is a native of San Angelo. His vision for the City is to create a city with opportunity for our students and their families so they can feel like they have a future in this city. He wants to build a city not just for tomorrow but for the future. He believes education of the young is the key to this and wants to partner with the local colleges and training centers to make that happen. He also want to work to improve the city’s infrastructure, especially water and roads.
Gary Jenkins
A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Jenkins began his time by declaring that he hates politics, but he is in this race because he wants to be an advocate for change. He believes affordable housing is a problem in the city that has reached a crisis. He wants to form and work with a coalition of experts in a real partnership to find solutions.
He would like to see transportation improved and to strengthen the economic base of the city while keeping taxes low. He did not offer any specifics about how he planned for City Council to accomplish this. He claimed he had years of government experience including working in the Nixon Whitehouse, as well as high positions in other state governments. The Concho Democrat was not able to verify any of these claims by press time. He has served as a police chaplain for the San Angelo Police Department and on the Board of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. He believes that it is God’s will for him to do this.
Tom Thompson
Tom Thompson, currently serving on the City Council representing SMD 2, is a native of Lamesa and graduate of ASU. He has lived in San Angelo since finishing ASU with his Master’s Degree in 1990. He describes himself as heavily invested in San Angelo and Lakeview. He addressed the heart of the City’s problem being a narrow tax based. Public Safety in San Angelo costs 120% of the property tax revenue the City receives. So that must be made up from somewhere. With limited funds the city can only do what it can afford to do.
As Mayor he aims to push San Angelo to the limit of what it can do to promote economic development. The Ports-to-Plains effort is vital to that and with the coming of I-27 and I-14 to San Angelo will bring many changes. The city also need a parallel runway at the airport. He has served eight years on the City Council and 10 years for the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Association, The decision for Mayor this year is going to impact the next eight to sixteen years and he asked everyone for their vote.
Another Mayoral Candidate, Joshua Burleson, did not attend the luncheon.
San Angelo City Council Candidates
The luncheon attendees also heard from the following City Council Candidates.
John Barriou SMD 2
Barriou said he wanted to be the “citizens voice on city council. Barriou is an Air Force Veteran and has served twelve years on various City Boards and Commission including the Economic Development Corporation. He wants to return the voice of the people to council chambers, where he claimed it had been forgotten. He has no priorities other than to address the citizens’ priorities.
Joe Self SMD 2
Joe Self, also running for SMD 2 was born and raised in San Angelo. He graduated from Laveview High School in 1999. He earned is Bachelor’s Degree from ASU in 2002, and his Master’s Degree in 2005. He manages Automatic Fire Protection, having taken over from his father Marty Self. Marty Self has his own long history of service on the City Council. He has served on the City Planning Commission. On the City Council he wants to focus on planning for the future, especially related to the continued development of the Ports-To-Plains project and the improvements to the San Angelo Coliseum.
Patrick Kelley SMD 4
Patrick Kelley spoke next. He has been a real estate agent in San Angelo since 2007 and is a graduate of ASU. He wants to focus on development in San Angelo, including the in fill development program of the City. He is an advocate for affordable housing and fiscal responsibility. Kelley also said he wants to cut services of the City that are not needed or used.
Jamal Schumpert SMD 4
Jamal Schumpert is also running for SMD 4. He is a graduate of ASU. He said he has no set plan but wants to create and support programs to promoted low-income housing, in particular single family housing.
Mary Coffee SMD 6
Mary Coffee has lived in San Angelo for 45 years. She said has spent her career growing a business and solving problems. Her key issues are a plan for the City that encourages development, responsible zoning policies and to cut through the red tape standing in the way of builders and developers. She also wants to see the City invest in infrastructure. She vowed to put the citizens firs.
Larry Miller, SMD 6 incumbent, was not able to attend the luncheon and speak because of a prior commitment.
Reporters Note:
Since the luncheon, Trinidad Aguirre also filed to run for Mayor, making a field of six candidates in that race. Dudra Bulter also filed for SMD2, making three candidates seeking that office.
