Almond’s statements

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe has written an excellent article [Page 1A, April 28] about the City Council election in Oak Point. It is accurate, fair, and well-balanced.

Unfortunately, the comments she quotes from Jim Almond are outright fabrications. Candidates Shade, Camp and Cameron un­equivocally stated, during the April 26 candidate forum, that they did not support high-density housing, that it would not necessarily increase the city’s tax base.

Furthermore, the City Council has already established a Comprehensive Plan to control density. 

Almond had already tipped his hand that he would play the high-density card when he dropped the comment during the April 22 candidate forum that Duane Olson had supported high-density during his previous terms as mayor.

The exact opposite is true, as Almond well knows. Olson campaigned, as a part of the LOCK (Tom Lilly, Duane Olson, Judith Camp, Tom Kanuch) slate that defeated the previous mayor and council, running precisely on a platform against high density.

The truth about the Spanish-language church is that Almond voted for the special-use permit before the Spanish group bought the land. Just afterward, Almond brought the English-only language resolution.

The pattern is very familiar; having nothing positive on which to run, either in his record on the council or on his platform for re-election, Almond is resorting to vague attacks on at least one of his opponents and trying to spread rumors that will evoke old fears among the citizenry.

T. Jervis Underwood,

Oak Point

Oversight versus management

Mark Burroughs’ comment about institutional ignorance was amusing, but it reveals a basic misunderstanding about the duty of elected officials.

Candidates aren’t chosen for city councils (or school boards) because they possess certain management skills. No one should expect a councilperson to run a city or a school trustee to even be an educator, for that matter.

Their real job is about leadership and judgment. Leaders assign tasks, review results, and hold staff accountable if things aren’t operating smoothly.

Herein lies the basic problem behind Den­ton’s lack of planning, wasteful spending and senseless tax policy. We’re left with (well-intended) laymen trying to assume the role of paid professionals quietly leaving others to cash the paychecks.

This doesn’t happen overnight or by accident. City and school staffers become highly proficient at shifting responsibility to elected types who are happily willing to take on the job of daily operations instead of oversight. The end result is predictable, often disastrous.

“Nine-year-terms” Mark, with all respect due, if a councilperson can’t figure out their job after six long years in office, I don’t want them hanging around for an extra three waiting on a clue.

Three times two years will do very nicely, thank you, and I hope Judge Evans will reaffirm the intent of our original charter language after the dust settles on this current election cycle.

David Zoltner,

Denton

Burroughs: Experience and energy

The city of Denton is on the threshold of explosive growth and serves as an epicenter of services for an ever-expanding population in the northern region of the D-FW metroplex.

City, county and state governments have a serious stake in the cooperative planning and management of the consequences of the de­mands of this surging growth and the benefits of a new model of the economy in the region.

Business as usual in a parochial county seat is no longer the approach to a highly interdependent regional economy with issues of governance and fiscal management that span political boundaries.

New regional perspectives and attitudes are best provided by fresh leadership from a person like Mark Burroughs, who has viewed the character of city management from inside city government and from dynamic external organizations that are independently shaping orderly anticipation of the future, such as transportation.

This blend of experience and energy from Mark Burroughs will be critical for providing the creation and responsible oversight of a new coherent plan for the pivotal role of the city of Denton in North Texas. Mark Bur­roughs is the man to lead us on that new path and maintain adherence to its objectives.

Now is the time to clarify and anticipate the reality of future images in a city government that we know will prevent future shock and a crisis mode response. We have seen the costs of crisis mode responses from the current city government.

Set a new Mark for Denton with Mr. Bur­roughs!

James G. Smith,

Denton

Kamp: the clear choice

Pete Kamp is an energetic, hard-working public servant who has earned our vote for Denton City Council. Through her service as mayor pro tem and chairwoman of council committees, as well as her leadership in the Denton business community, Pete Kamp understands the needs and desires of Denton residents. She is wholeheartedly committed to striving for achievable goals.

Her roots are deep in this community. She believes in the integrity of neighborhoods and works for their preservation. Pete Kamp is the type of leader who studies issues thoroughly, works with residents and council members to reach a consensus and forms policies that are best for our community.

Who could ask for more?

Our clear choice for Denton City Council, Place 5, is Pete Kamp.

Ray Stephens,

Denton

A full-time mayor

One of the major reasons Denton has prospered during Mayor McNeill’s leadership is his tireless commitment to the office of mayor. Perry is a full-time mayor, and his availability to residents, city staff, boards, commissions and council members has contributed to Denton’s success.

With our city being named one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., can we afford a part-time mayor? Can Mr. Burroughs provide the same level of commitment and leadership given his full-time law practice and current board memberships?

Additionally, questions have been raised concerning Mr. Burroughs’ conflict of interest regarding his firm’s contract for collection of delinquent taxes for the city of Denton. Mr. Burroughs claims no conflict exits because he does not collect the attorneys’ fees from the city but from the delinquent taxpayers directly. If not contracted by the city, however, his firm would not be entitled to those fees or revenue. Therefore, I believe there is a conflict of interest. Do we want a mayor whose law firm is suing our residents for delinquent taxes? To get proven results, Denton needs a full-time mayor. My vote goes to re-elect Perry McNeill.

Eddie Lane,

Denton

Bland for Aubrey ISD

I’ve known Rusty Bland and his wife Vickie almost 20 years. Our sons played Aubrey youth sports together, up through junior high, JV and finally varsity sports at Aubrey High School. I kid him all the time about being an Aubrey homeboy, but the fact is that he is very proud of that distinction. And he should be.

I really got to know what kind of a person Rusty is after I was elected to serve on the Aubrey ISD school board in 2002. What I have learned is that he can be rough and plainspoken. But, more important, he is committed to the students of Aubrey, loyal to a fault and unquestionably honest.

If Rusty Bland tells you he is going to do something, you can take it to the bank — it’s going to happen.

I won’t say that we have always agreed on every point in our time together on the board. No one ever does. But Rusty is open-minded, listens to the opinions of others and he frequently seeks out advice when he needs to.

Beneath the country-boy facade, Rusty Bland is a very bright, caring man who loves the children of Aubrey, and he is no one’s fool. He has served the taxpayers, teachers and students well and I would appreciate your support in the upcoming Aubrey school board election, which is May 10.

Whatever you do, please vote and make your voices heard.

Jackie McBroom,

Aubrey

McNeil for mayor

I am voting for Perry McNeill! He has proven many times to be a true leader. While serving as the chairman of the board for the Denton Chamber of Commerce, McNeill promoted his famous triangle: “Government, higher education and business guiding Den­ton forward.” Succeeding chamber chairs built on that theme, with versions of, “One Community, One Vision.”

Since his election to the council, he has continued to reach out to neighborhoods, nonprofits and the arts and business communities, bringing unity and harmony to Denton. McNeill was instrumental in leading the coun­­cil to establish the citizen’s property main­tenance code issues committee composed of the stakeholders in Denton — neigh­borhood representatives, property managers, property owners and interested residents.

This community is more unified than at any other time in recent memory. Please join me in casting your vote for a proven leader — Perry McNeill.

Barbara Russell,

Denton

Mulroy and neighborhoods 

Denton’s growth has and will continue to present challenges to our city. The increases in traffic, the need for new schools and expanded city services will require a lot of attention in the coming years.

In this growth we cannot, however, allow our city government to ignore Denton’s existing older neighborhoods. These neighborhoods face deterioration through lack of funding, poor rental property maintenance, deficient code enforcement and often-inadequate city services.

What we need is a city government that un­derstands the issues faced by our older neighborhoods and a willingness to give us the support and tools we need to maintain and im­prove our existing communities.

We need officials who have a good overview as to structuring future growth that will benefit all our residents.

We need a City Council that will not be swayed by special-interest groups, be they commercial developers, big-box retail corporations, land speculators, real-estate moguls, or protectionists who wish to slow our city’s growth and pine for the old days when Denton was a quiet and peaceful small college town. It takes a sober individual with active perception and understanding to walk that line. It takes a City Council person who is willing to be accessible and make judgments that will benefit Denton as a whole. 

Joe Mulroy has proven himself to be that rare type of individual. We need Mr. Mulroy’s continued presence on Denton’s City Council. 

John T. Weber,

Denton

Burroughs for mayor

I support Mark Burroughs for mayor of Denton. He is well-qualified, having served on the City Council for six years. In addition, he was mayor pro tem.

Mark has the experience and character that we need. He exemplifies the positive traits we need in a public servant. A vote for Mark Burroughs for mayor is a vote for a better Denton. Join me in voting for Mark.

Jim Simmons,

Denton

Vote Mohelnitzky

I have known Jerry Mohelnitzky for many years and have always admired him as a very successful businessman.

I then had the pleasure of working with him on the Denton Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Economic Devel­opment Board for several years, and grew to respect and admire him even more.

His ability to communicate is one of the best I’ve witnessed and his ability to articulate makes him an effective leader.

Jerry’s business background provides him with the leadership skills necessary for a growing community, and he will lead change in a positive manner that benefits the entire community. Please join me in voting for “Jerry Mo” for City Council.

Priscilla Sanders,

Denton

Support for Kamp

I support Pete Kamp, who is running for Place 5 on the Denton City Council.

I will cast my vote for her on May 10, and I urge all my friends to vote for her, too.

Alton Thibodeaux,