Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith swears in newly-elected Buda mayor Sarah Mangham. Mangham is the former finance director for the city. (Photo by Jennifer Biundo)
by JENNIFER BIUNDO
Former Buda finance director Sarah Mangham took her mayoral oath of office Tuesday night, taking over the gavel from outgoing mayor Bobby Lane.
In her new role as Buda’s top elected official, there’s plenty of important work to be done, Mangham noted: improving mobility, increasing economic development, keeping the tax rate low. But for her first order of business, the new mayor had a more pragmatic goal: making sure the audience could actually understand the councilmembers and presenters.
“One of the things I heard going around door to door is ‘I can’t hear them, I can’t hear them,’” Mangham said.
Shortly after taking her seat at the dais, Mangham addressed the audience, urging them to wave their hand to alert councilmembers if they weren’t speaking into the microphone.
Mangham narrowly defeated the incumbent by a margin of eight votes in the May 14 election. Lane stepped down from the dais Tuesday night after a decade of service, including terms as councilmember and mayor.
“I want to wish Sarah well in her new role,” Lane said. “I have confidence that she will do a wonderful job, I have confidence that she will represent Buda well, and know that Buda’s best interests are in her heart.”
Councilmember Scott Dodd, who easily defeated write-in challenger David Stewart, took his second oath of office for the Place 6 seat Tuesday night.
Hays County Justice of the Peace Beth Smith also swore in Dawn Shaeffer, who ran unopposed for the Place 5 seat formerly held by long-time Councilmember Tom Crouse.
With the addition of Mangham and Schaeffer, women now hold a majority on the Buda council.
Mangham said she planned to set up meetings with county leaders, including County Judge Burt Cobb and Pct. 2 Commissioner Mark Jones, to discuss how the city could help push forward voter-approved road projects such as the FM 1626 expansion.
Mangham said she also wanted to work with TxDOT to improve safety and visibility at the curve on RM 967, in front of the Creekside Villas senior citizens development.
“I personally think that’s going to be a very dangerous situation,” Mangham said.
In two future agenda items, Mangham said she would also ask councilmembers to consider saying the pledge of allegiance before meetings, and ask for a refresher workshop on the rules of order and decorum of council meetings.
“It’s a good time to look over that and see what’s working,” Mangham said.
