Who’s in, who’s out for Buda forum

By Moses Leos III.

The stage is set to hear what potential Buda council members have to say; whether the candidates will be on the stage is up in the air.
On Oct. 16, the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce, with the assistance of Reverend Jennifer Brooke-Davidson, a former Washington DC attorney, will host and moderate a Candidate Forum at Buda City Hall. The event encompasses both Place 1 and Place 2 spots on the dais, with possibly all six candidates in attendance.
BACC Managing Director J.R. Gonzales said the forum would help introduce the community to the candidates. He hopes the chamber’s role in the forum, which they have done previously, will help spur voter turnout.

“It is an important function. It’s imperative to get the community involved in meeting their candidates,” Gonzales said. “Our job at the Chamber is to inform and educate people, so they know where each candidate stands.”
Thus far, six candidates, including a married couple, have thrown their hats into the ring for the two spots.
Angela Kennedy, Lorraine Gerami, Beverly Araki and Wayne Proctor vie for Place 1. That spot will be vacated by longtime council member Ron Fletcher, who is retiring.
In Place 2, incumbent Wiley Hopkins seeks reelection after serving out Mayor Todd Ruge’s remaining term. He faces a familiar opponent in Amy Proctor, Wayne’s wife, who ran and lost to Hopkins in a runoff election earlier this year.
Gonzales said the forum follows a “simple format” structure with a question-and-answer session where the questions will be predetermined before the event. Each candidate will receive an equal amount of time to answer. Questions will range from quality of life to business related topics.  
There will also be an audience participation portion. Citizens can submit questions to the chamber beforehand, or prior to the event.
The big challenge now becomes wrangling up the candidates.  Two of the six candidates did not provide phone or email information in their filing forms.
According to City Secretary Joy Hart, state law does not require candidates to provide that information, only a physical address is necessary.
However, it does limit the chamber’s ability to contact them.
A chamber representative said a combination of calls, emails and letters were used to reach the candidates inviting them to the forum. Araki and Gerami have not replied.
Mayor Todd Ruge, who’s been a part of the forum process, did not understand their motives, calling it a “disservice” to their constituents and media.
Kennedy, who is running for Place 1, is working hard to prepare for the forum.
She already hit the campaign trail by talking with citizens, gathering their feedback on traffic congestion, keeping taxes low, and maintaining a small town feel.
Kennedy also contacted former and current councilmembers on past decisions made by city council.
“It’s important for citizens to have as much information as possible,” she said. “I look forward to [the forum].”
Equally excited is Hopkins, who will attend. He felt his six months on the dais has gone well, referencing the council’s ability to address infrastructure concerns, balancing the budget and helping keep city taxes low.
Both will be going up against the Proctors, who are running on the same platform of no growth.
Wayne Proctor expressed his concern of the forum’s format via letter to the Hays Free Press. He was concerned with the forum becoming a rally for one candidate. Neither have confirmed if they will attend.
Gonzales reassured the forum’s fairness, with the goal of all candidates expressing themselves. It follows a structure set by the League of Womens Voters – a standard used for decades.
Multiple attempts were made by the Hays Free Press to contact Araki and Gerami. Neither responded prior to press time.