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SAN MARCOS CITY COUNCIL
Editor’s note: The comments in this article have been lightly edited for readability.
The November election is upcoming, and there will be candidates for San Marcos City Council and Mayor on the ballot. The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Four Rivers Association of Realtors, hosted a Local Candidates Forum to allow the chance for the public to get to know each of the candidates and their views a bit better.
This article will focus on the San Marcos mayoral candidates, which include incumbent Jane Hughson and Juan Miguel Arredondo. Each question and answer are written in the order that they occurred.
The moderator started by allowing each candidate to make a statement.
HUGHSON: Thanks to the chamber and the Board of Realtors for hosting this forum, and thank you to the audience, all of you who are here to learn more about the candidates. I'm a Rattler and a Bobcat. San Marcos is such a beautiful place to be that I have lived here for almost all my life. I worked at Texas State for 33 years, connecting people and technology. During that time, I joined the Chamber of Commerce to learn about the business community. I was an active member and chaired two committees for a number of years.
The word is out; We love San Marcos, and many are coming to join us. Note that each annexation creates jobs or homes. Residential property tax does not support what we need for public safety, parks, all the things we love about San Marcos, so we must diversify our tax base with more commercial and industrial uses. This year, we approved incentive packages for Bucky’s and SPEC Buildings, and we had an incentive invitation out with grocery stores. We must manage the growth, so it doesn't control us. We need quality jobs for our current and future residents, which means we see corporations that pay a living wage and have benefits. Workforce Training is a key to individual success, whether it's public school, college or technical training. In addition, we will always protect our gem of a river and the recharge zone that supports it. As an elected official, I listen to see how we can make our city better, and when needed, I try to reach a compromise within the council and the community. Thank you again for being here.
ARREDONDO: My name is Juan Miguel Arredondo, and for the last nine years I've served as a trustee on the San Marcos CISD school board. Before I begin my remarks, I do want to thank and welcome the San Marcos High School government class who's here this evening. It was an honor and a privilege for my campaign to pay for their dinner and invite them here to see what the future leaders of their community are having to say about San Marcos, and they are actually why I'm here. For the last nine years, like I said, I've been serving on our school board and have been fighting for our students and families, and I'm running to bring change, fresh ideas and a forward-facing vision to the city of San Marcos. I fundamentally think it's unacceptable that some of the issues that are facing San Marcos are older than these young people who are here this evening. We've been talking about housing. We've been talking about jobs. We've been talking about infrastructure for decades, and that is heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking for a business owner who continues to deal with a city that is averse and antagonistic to investment and opportunity. It is difficult for a family who's looking for an affordable home to start something in this community, and that's why I'm running. I have led with a sense of urgency on our San Marcos CISD school board, and that's how I plan on leading as Mayor of San Marcos. Thank you.
Question: The popularity of the San Marcos area and the accelerated growth we are experiencing makes the issue of finding affordable housing that much more difficult for people in our community. How should the city address the issue of affordable and diverse housing? And what city strategies do you see as most effective in achieving these housing goals?
HUGHSON: Two ways we have addressed this already is: For low income housing, we have approved over 3,000 units that have been brought to us through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, so that takes care of a number of people. And that need is great here. In addition, developers are bringing more housing to us. It hurts me coming from a farm and ranch family to see farmland being lost on the east side of the interstate. But some of the kids don't want to farm, and they see selling that property is what they need to do. Developers are there to buy it, and on the east side is where it's easier and faster to develop because you're not trenching through rock like you do on the other side. Plus the west side is more environmentally sensitive, and we're concerned about that. So we continue to approve new developments as they come, even though they're far out. I know that's not good for transit. I know that's not good for a lot of things [such as] walkability. However, it's more housing that's being brought to us.
ARREDONDO: I'll be quite frank. I wish I lived in the San Marcos that Mayor Hughson lives in. The San Marcos that I know and the residents who I represent do not have access to safe and affordable housing. Young families who are looking to locate or call San Marcos home to buy a house cannot find affordable housing. So it's frustrating to hear that the city of San Marcos has done this, that it's mission accomplished. It's frustrating as someone who sat on the SMTX For All Housing Task Force for hours and weeks and months and years, to then see the city of San Marcos ignore some of the biggest pieces of the puzzle to solve affordable housing in our community. What can we do to make San Marcos more affordable? It is increase the housing stock in our community and not put it at the periphery of San Marcus at the cost of all the taxpayers when it comes to infrastructure, when it comes to water, when it comes to public safety and essential services.
Question: Business opportunities in San Marcos are growing along with our population. San Marcos is prime for job growth and long term career growth. What do you believe is the greatest workforce development challenge in San Marcos? And how do you propose we address it?
ARREDONDO: I think one of the biggest things that we can do to increase, one, investment in San Marcos and diversify our tax base is to work with the entities that are educating our future workforce. That means working with Texas State University. That means working with Gary Job Corps, and that means working with the school district. And I will be open and transparent and say, this relationship between the ISD and the city continues to be strained. I would argue that San Marcos CISD and Texas State have one of the best relationships we've ever had. We just announced a historic partnership putting San Marcos high school juniors and seniors on campus, taking dual credit classes, and that's huge. It's because of new leadership, new ideas and a forward-facing vision. So what can we do? We can be true partners with the education entities in San Marcos, not just during election year, but every year.
HUGHSON: I’m glad you asked the question about workforce, because when folks have a better education, they're going to come closer and some will achieve the affordable housing and housing that we have. We are lucky to have a Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area office here. That is one place that people can go to be assessed if they're still seeking what they feel they might be best at. They can receive training. There's childcare available during that training. We are providing space for ACC classes. There have been at least three HVAC classes right across the way at the library. 22 finished the first two, and the photos we have of them with sheer joy being that level one technician is great. In addition, the area behind the city hall that used to house our water, wastewater and streets program is going to be used by ACC. There will be welding and other classes. We've got a classroom that they can use. There's going to be a number of things that are going on there that will be positive for us.
Question: As mayor, you will have the opportunity to influence and direct initiatives for our community. If elected or re-elected, what initiatives will be top priorities for you, and what active steps will you take to affect change in those areas?
HUGHSON: Working through the council, we have our vision workshop every year. We set our goals. One of the things that we need to make sure [of ] is that we continue the services that we have for our citizens, continue the utility services. We need to do those, but in the manner that we do it now. Affordable housing, we're also looking at. We need to make sure that we continue to protect our environment, and we will be doing whatever we can that's going to help the citizens of San Marcos.
ARREDONDO: I think the biggest difference between myself and current leadership is a sense of urgency. For the last nine years, I have advocated for moving our school district forward, increasing academic programs and implementing the plans that we have contracted out through consultants and community conversations. And as mayor, I want to implement the plans that already exist. … I think so many people, in this room in particular, sit through community conversations [and] through planning exercises. A plan is crafted and not implemented, and there's no action taken. And that is so frustrating — I'm sure, for you and for me alike — that we have solutions to the greatest challenges facing our community, but yet we continue to kick the can down the road. And so what do I offer as the next mayor of San Marcos? A sense of urgency and leadership and action.
Closing Statements ARREDONDO: I'm excited, y'all. I'm excited about the future of the city of San Marcos. I'm excited about seeing so many candidates run to bring different leadership to our community. I had the privilege of working as a staff member, as an intern for former Councilwoman Kim Porterfield. That was actually exactly the same time that former Councilwoman Pam Couch was also on council, and I saw what a council with a vision and a future-facing perspective looked like. Once upon a time in our community, we had leaders who said, ‘We are going to rebuild Rio Vista Falls,’ and they rebuilt Rio Vista Falls. Once upon a time, we had a mayor and council who said, ‘We're going to bring in a hotel and conference room,’ and they brought it in. Once upon a time, we had a mayor and a council who said, ‘We are going to build the Wonder World extension,’ and they built it. And if you follow Council now, we don't believe in big things anymore. In San Marcos, and as someone who wants to call San Marcos their home for the rest of their lives, who wants to raise a family here, who wants to buy a home here, who sees their peers wanting to invest and create businesses here — we have to start believing in big things again. And that's what my campaign is about, and that's why I'm running. Thank you again.
HUGHSON: It has been the honor to be the mayor of San Marcos with its diverse community and rich history. … Council gave direction a few years ago to prioritize funding for additional police officers and firefighters. We are almost there. We just need to hire and train the last of the positions filled. I voted for the 2018 Land Development Code, which includes diverse housing types and land use changes, changes to support homes that cost less. Small businesses are incredibly important to our city, and I have voted for all of the grants that have been proposed for businesses. I also voted for short term rentals and accessory dwelling unit grants for first time homeowners, a $15,000 property tax exemption for homeowners, a $2,000 increase in the over 65 exemption, federal grant funding to help individuals and businesses through Corona[virus] relief funds and the American Rescue Plan Act. I will continue to work so that growth is positive for us. For information about this campaign, you can see Jane-Hughson.org, and I ask for your vote. … Thank you very much.
