By Moses Leos III
A political strategist, financial analyst and contractor all tossed their hats into the ring on Monday’s filing deadline for the Buda City Council Place 1 election on November 8.
But Tuesday brought a stunning surprise as incumbent Place 1 council member Angela Kennedy, who cast her filing Aug. 17, announced in a press release she was withdrawing her name from the Place 1 election.
Kennedy’s withdrawal paves the way for John Hatch, Lee Urbanovsky and Theodore Kosub to battle for the Place 1 seat on the dais.
Urbanovsky, a 15-year Buda resident who lives in Garlic Creek, is a senior project manager–general contractor with SpawGlass. Kosub, also a Garlic Creek resident, is a financial analyst with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
According to their election filings, both men filed for modified reporting, which states they do not intend to accept more than $500 in political contributions or make more than $500 in political expenditures with any future election cycle.
Hatch, who resides in Cullen Country and is a 21-year Hays County resident, is an elections consultant with Texas Petition Strategies. According to a press release, Hatch said he was instrumental in efforts to change local beer and wine laws in Buda, which allowed H-E-B to come in 1999.
“I’m running for City Council Place 1, because I believe my vast experience in working with cities and counties all over Texas can benefit our community,” Hatch said in a statement.
For Kennedy, “wearing too many hats” was the reason for her withdrawal.
“My kids are getting older. They were in pre-school when I ran before,” Kennedy said. “I need to refocus my energy.”
Kennedy said in a statement she was “extremely grateful” for voters who supported her candidacy in 2013.
She also said she accomplished many of her goals, which included planning for water resources, such as Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) and maintaining the lowest tax rate in Central Texas while funding the city’s new municipal building.
Kennedy said she was supporting Hatch based on his “extensive background” in state and local governments.
“I encourage John, and the other candidates and council members to continue their efforts to ask the hard questions, listen to our neighborhood groups and work to solve the issues facing our community as we grow,” Kennedy said.
Meanwhile, incumbent Wiley Hopkins’ second reelection bid will pit him against Garlic Creek resident Jeffrey Morales.
Hopkins, who is retired and won a runoff election in March 2013 for an unexpired Place 2 term, won a reelection bid for the seat in November 2013.
Morales, who has lived in Buda for six years, is an Investigator for the State of Texas. According to his election filing, Morales filed for modified reporting.
