by VERONICA GORDON
Filing for Buda City Council seats has begun and so far, two residents have thrown their names into the race for incumbent Sandra Tenorio’s Place 3 seat.
Taryn Davis, 26, is running for the first time. Davis has lived in the city for almost five years.
Jose Montoya, Jr., 68, is challenging Davis for the election. Montoya has also lived in Buda for about five years. He ran for council in 2011 and lost by 35 votes.
“Since then, I’ve been involved in the planning and zoning commission and several boards and commissions,” Montoya said.
Montoya said he wants to serve the citizens of Buda and help the city manage its growth wisely.
“I want to promote economic development while at the same time minimizing the bond debt,” he said.
Davis, who founded the American Widow Project, said she is compelled to serve the citizens of Buda.
“My career has been in running a non-profit which is like a business,” Davis said. “And running a city is like running a business.”
Davis said through her organization, she has met many strong and influential leaders who have inspired her to work in her community.
“I see that there’s a lack of citizen involvement in Buda and a lack of fiscal transparency from the city,” she said. “I knew I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t step up and try to do something.”
Davis says her experience and national exposure will help her as a council member if she is elected.
Montoya, on the other hand, said he’s more experienced through his service in the militiary and his service on the Travis County Appraisal Review Board.
“My opponent is young and experienced, I’m seasoned and experienced, I guess we’ll see what Buda citizens want,” Montoya said.
Incumbent Cathy Chilcote has filed for re-election to the Place 4 position. Chilcote has lived in Buda for 15 years. At press time, no one else had filed for that seat.
Filing for the Places 3 and 4 ends Aug. 20. The filing period for Place 5 ends Aug. 23. The election is Tuesday, Nov. 6.
