by JENNIFER BIUNDO
When it comes to politics, the city of Buda has been a tame sort of town in recent years, with little turnover on the city council and few contested elections. But the upcoming spring races are promising to bring some fresh faces to the City Hall dais.
Former Buda Finance Director Sarah Mangham filed this week to run for mayor in the May 14 election. Current mayor, Bobby Lane, says he’s leaning against seeking reelection, though he might make a bid for his old councilmember’s seat.
Place 5 Councilmember Tom Crouse, who filed at the last minute to seek a fourth term in 2009 after no other candidate stepped up to take over the seat, says he’s also leaning against another council run.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Dawn Schaeffer filed this week to seek Crouse’s Place 5 seat.
Place 6 Councilmember Scott Dodd is also up for reelection. Dodd could not be reached by press time, but no candidates have filed yet for the Place 6 seat.
Filing opened Feb. 12 and runs through March 14.
So far, only one candidate is officially in the mayor’s race. Mangham, 37, graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2000 with a degree in business, and has worked for the last decade in government finance. She served as a state budget analyst and program administrator before taking over the role of finance director for the city of Buda from 2004-2009.
Despite her hands-on knowledge of city finances, Mangham says she’s not flaunting her old experience.
“I’m not running to micromanage the city,” Mangham said. “We have a home rule charter that sets out the responsibility of our city manager and staff, and I think our city manager should be able to do what he has to do to run the city.”
Instead, Mangham said that she plans to center her campaign on input from citizens.
“I want to be here to talk to citizens and really listen to what they’re saying,” Mangham said.
“Part of my campaign will be to provide to every citizen I talk to a postcard pre-stamped with my return address, and ask them, ‘Tell me the three things you’d like me to work on.’”
The incumbent, Lane, won the mayor’s seat in 2008, beating out Hutch White in a tight race between the two councilmembers. While he says he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of seeking a second term as mayor, he’s also considering a council run.
As high points of his tenure, he pointed to the successful transition to home rule from general law, a slew of road work, and the establishment of a local law force.
“I think one of the highest points was helping get the police department started,” Lane said. “That has done so much to bring the city together as a whole. We seemed to get support from all sides on that.”
In the first week of filing, only one candidate, Dawn Schaeffer, has jumped in the ring for the Place 5 seat currently held by Crouse. Schaeffer, 46, worked as a computer network engineer and now describes herself as a homemaker. She currently serves on the Buda Planning and Zoning Commission.
Crouse, an IT specialist who’s served four two-year councilmembers terms since 2003, said it’s time for some new voices on the council.
“It was a huge learning experience, and it was a great opportunity,” Crouse said. “I came in at the end of the old guard, which had almost fist-fights. We’ve managed to work through a lot.”
In his time on the council, Crouse pointed to commercial development along Interstate 35, including the arrival in Buda of big retailers such as Cabela’s and Wal-Mart, which have pumped up the tax base in Buda, along with road work such as construction of the truck bypass.
No candidates have yet filed for the Place 6 seat now held by one-term councilmember Scott Dodd, who could not be reached for comment by press time.
In the last two years, only one out of six Buda council races have been contested.
Kyle’s elections have been slower to heat up. Incumbent mayor, Lucy Johnson, filed for reelection this week and has not yet drawn a challenger. Terms are expiring for Place 2 Councilmember Becky Selbera and Place 4 Councilmember David Wilson.
No candidates have yet filed in those races.
