by KIM HILSENBECK
This Saturday, Buda residents will have one last opportunity to vote for council member place 2, vacated by Todd Ruge when he was elected mayor in December.
The run-off election between candidates Wiley Hopkins and Amy Proctor resulted from a special election in January where no candidate achieved more than 50 percent of the vote. Hopkins and Proctor were in a three-way race with former council member Cathy Chilcote; she received 24 percent to Proctor’s 28 percent. Hopkins received 48 percent of the votes.
However, a mere 229 Buda residents exercised their right to vote.
In advance of this Saturday’s election, the Hays Free Press received answers to several questions posed to both of the run-off candidates. Protcor’s main concerns are rising taxes, uncontrolled growth and lack of infrastructure. Hopkins also believes growth is a major concern. To address it, Hopkins said the city must have the capacity to accommodate growth and/or be prepared to increase its funds accounts.
Neither candidate has previously held an elected office.
Buda City Council Candidate Responses
The answers from each candidate are printed verbatim in their entirety. Buda residents can vote from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on March 9 at City Hall.
Amy Proctor
1. Why are you the most qualified candidate for this position?
I believe I am more qualified for Buda City Council because I have a passion for my town that I have lived in for over 30 years and plan on living here forever.
2. What is the No. 1 issue affecting our community, and what will you do to address it?
The top issues for Buda is that taxes are rising; growth is uncontrolled; traffic is increasing; density is increasing; we have a water shortage; the roads are insufficient and in need of repair and improvement. We must provide the proper infrastructure prior to another population explosion like what we are currently experiencing.
3. How can you help bring jobs to Buda?
We need to get the uncontrolled growth in hand before we can think about jobs.
4. What is the last book you read?
The last book I read is “The Rescue” by Nicholas Sparks.
5. What is something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
A lot of people would be surprised to learn about me:
I worked as a supervisor in a 24 hour Mental Health Facility for 15 years.
I worked for Lockheed in security, in support of defense contracts that required a top secret security clearance.
I am a survivor – I was diagnosed two years ago with Stage 4 Lymphoma. I am currently cancer free, and ready to give back to the community for this miracle.
6. Have you held any elected political office in the past?
I am not a politician. I decided to enter this election when I realized the other candidates seeking this office held the opposite vision for Buda’s future than I did.
7. Education level; include university/college and what degree(s)
As a single parent, I attended school full time, graduated from Heald’s Business College and then worked full time to support my three children, all under the age of ten.
8. What would you say is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
My opponent has a opposite view for Buda’s future than I visualize. He is responsible (according to his words) for bringing the apartment complex behind Cabela’s to Buda, which will cause a traffic nightmare for commuters.
On the other hand, I am very concerned about rising taxes, uncontrolled growth, increasing traffic, increasing density, water shortage, insufficient road and roads in need of repair. We must provide proper infrastructure prior to another population explosion and growth explosion like we are currently experiencing. I think we may lose the small town charm of Buda if we don’t take action now.
Wiley Hopkins
1. Why are you the most qualified candidate for this position?
Compared to the other candidate my qualifications for the position of Buda City Council overwhelmingly exceeds my opponent’s. My experience in leadership, management, and education/training is extensive in both the private and public sectors. It includes interacting with local municipalities, county commissioners, city managers, city councils, county judges, and economic development corporations to provide solutions to multiple community issues of housing and infrastructure needs.
Having managed and directed in several venues, it required interaction with professionals in the legal arena, including Bond Council, Tax Credit Syndicators, Bond Issuers Council and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Have created and managed multi-million dollar funding budgets and staff to facilitate programs benefiting the citizens of the State.
2. What is the No. 1 issue affecting our community, and what will you do to address it?
Growth – key aspect of the inevitable growth in the City of Buda is the effects it will have on the current infrastructure. To address that scenario the city must assure that it has the capacity to accommodate growth and/or be prepared to increase its funds accounts. This does not infer tax increases. There are other means to increase revenues to meet these needs. To mention a few, consideration can be given to resetting development assessment and impact fees, require in kind contributions for utilities and street improvements and filing applications for Federal and State grants.
3. How can you help bring jobs to Buda?
Attracting businesses and industry to Buda necessitates supportive posture of the Buda Economic Development Corporation by the leadership of the City, as well as the local and surrounding Chamber of Commerce’s offices and the Hays County Commissioners Court. I would be a participating member to stimulate this type of collaborative efforts. Proven experience and successes in forming partnerships initiative efforts has been in my past experience and I am comfortable in marketing/business development and being an ambassador for the public causes to benefit communities.
4. What is the last book you read?
‘UNBROKEN’ – Author, Laura Hillenbrand, – An WWII epic of survival.
5. What is something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
That I was a high school ‘All State Basketball Player’ in Illinois and subsequently played for U S Army’s 82nd Airborne Division( All American) team.
6. Have you held any elected political office in the past?
No.
7. Education level; include university/college and what degree(s)
LaSalle University Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Management and a Masters Degree in Business Management.
8. What would you say is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
My opponent has not provided any relevant qualifications or experience information that would imply the ability to contribute to the routine or complex matters that a Council Member must address.
