Election day for Kyle City Council District 5 and 6 seats is May 9. The Hays Free Press asked the six Kyle council candidates the following ten questions. Answers printed as submitted. 
See the other candidates responses here: 

District 5 candidates: Damon Fogley, Laurie Luttrell, Jaime Sanchez

District 6 candidates: Tammy Swaton, Dex Ellison, Daphne Tenorio

Daphne Tenorio, District 6

Homemaker/ Community Volunteer

1. What are the most important policies Kyle needs to implement to ensure it reaches and maintains sustainability?   The most important policies Kyle needs to implement to ensure sustainability are:

* We must update our comprehensive plans with input for our citizens and assuring those reviews and updates are done every five years.

* We must complete and implement our master transportation plan.

* We must review, and update (if necessary) our subdivision ordinance.  They have not been reviewed in over a decade.

2. What are three achievable goals you would champion during your term? 

a)  We need to complete the five road bond projects.  In addition our transportation systems must be able to handle not only our current level of traffic, but be ready to handle our future needs.  I’ll work to ensure our city plans for future growth by completing the Kyle Master Transportation Plan so we can use it as a guide for future decisions.

b)  I will work to create a small business friendly environment by reviewing and streamlining our permitting and development process.

c)  I will work on improving and updating our water and wastewater infrastructure to provide for the future growth of our city. 

3. What do you believe is the number one issue facing Kyle?  Getting the five roads completed on budget and on time.

4. What ideas do you have for branding the city as a tourist destination? We need to build the reputation of Kyle as a destination attraction by showcasing the events already occur in our community.  We need to be known for a few festivals that attract people here for a visit and then encourage them to return.  These events should focus on family fun festivals with art and music oriented entertainment.  We also should be known for our unique stores and restaurants, so that there is a unique flavor to Kyle that makes a visitors’ experience “simply charming”.  

5. What is the name of your neighborhood and what is the most pressing issue for residents there?   For fifteen years, I have lived in the Steeplechase neighborhood, which is surrounded by three of the most travelled roads, which are in extremely poor condition, (Bunton, Goforth, and Lehman).  These streets handle all of the traffic for the neighborhood, plus the traffic for Lehman High School and Fuentes Elementary.  The roads also lead people to Seton Hospital and Wal-Mart.  We need to get the streets done on time and on budget, to handle the volume of traffic to Steeplechase, nearby neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

6. Do you have any professional experience that will help you as an elected official?  I’ve worked as an accountant and bookkeeper for various small businesses for over twenty years.  My experience in accounting gives me the ability to understand the city’s complex budgets.  My past experience includes working with several counties with their bond programs, which is an essential part of funding our capital improvement program.  I also have extensive experience in grant writing.  I have also served my community with thousands of volunteer hours in various positions of the PTA including President, and Booster Club President.  Those volunteer positions have taught me to work with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds.  I learned to develop goals jointly with various stakeholders and then work to implement the plan.  

7. What do you see as the greatest threats and opportunities for the future of Kyle?  Kyle’s greatest opportunities relate to location, location, location.  Our city’s location on the I-35 corridor will continue to present us with the opportunity for growth-growth in new businesses, new employment opportunities, and new housing growth.  We must be prepared for this new and continued growth.  Our greatest threats are neglecting our roads and infrastructure.

8. Why should voters elected you over your opponents?  Voters should elect me because of my experience, motivation and devotion to my city.  My past experience as an accountant prepares me to tackle the city’s budgets and keep our tax rate as competitive as possible with other cities along the IH-35 corridor.  I believe that Kyle is the greatest place to raise a family, and I am highly motivated to see that the city continues to be such a place for my children and future grandchildren.  The Tenorio family has lived here for over 100 years and we are not moving.  My devotion to my community is proven through my many volunteer hours to non-profits and school activities.  

9. What should our readers know about you before they head to the voting booth?  I am dedicated to the community of Kyle.  I am like you and I will look out for your interests first.  I am the person you see at the grocery store, the person at your child’s school.  I will not beholden to special interests, because I am a self-funded candidate.  My decisions will be based solely on what is best for the City of Kyle.  I will listen to your concerns and be your voice at city hall.

10. What is the most recent book you read?  The Purple Cow by Seth Godin