Keller City Council

Members serve two-year terms and are unpaid.

Place 2

Name: John Baker

Age: 57

Occupation: American Airlines pilot

Online:www.bakerforcouncil.com

Background: Baker has a bachelor of business administration in finance from the University of New Mexico. He has been an American Airlines pilot for 29 years. He served six years in the U.S. Air Force and 14 years in the Air National Guard, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Baker served on the Keller Economic Development Board in 2002 and on the Keller Public Arts Board from 2003 to 2007. He has been a member of the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce since 2005 and was president of the Windsor Forest Homeowners Association for three years.

About the candidate: Baker said his goals are to improve Keller's reputation as a responsible, rational and respectful place to live and do business. He also wants to fund infrastructure, with public safety projects taking priority, and re-establish relationships with regional cities and groups that help fund infrastructure. He also plans to work to reduce the property tax rate and total tax bill, and improve relationships among the council, staff, residents and business community.

Name: Mark Harness (incumbent)

Age: 47

Occupation: Church administrator

Online: www.markharness4keller.com

Background: Harness earned a bachelor of business administration from Angelo State University. He has served on the Keller City Council since 2006.

About the candidate: Harness said his priorities are to increase the street maintenance and repair budget, complete the library expansion, and introduce bond proposals for parks and recreation. He also wants to work on storm-water drainage and sanitary sewer upgrades as well as to enhance communication between residents and council and city staff. His other goals are to promote economic development, prepare for additional fire stations and equip the police force.

Name: Kevin Jerome

Age: 42

Occupation: Investor

Online: none

Background: Jerome has a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Louisiana State University. He said he has worked as a reporter and editor of many newspapers, where he covered city councils and other local government entities. He also worked as director of archives and records management for Caddo Parish and served as the alderman for Ward 1 in Maumelle, Ark.

About the candidate: He said his goals are to represent the views of the majority of Keller residents. He said he would promote only quality developments that benefit residents, which means ensuring no more apartments or other residential development in Town Center. He said he also wants to change the approval process to ensure that the voice of every Keller resident is heard on development issues. He said he would create an open and transparent city government.

Name: Scott Zang

Age: 34

Occupation: Sales management

Online:scott.zang@gmail.com

Background: He has a bachelor of business administration in marketing from Central Missouri State University. He has served as a precinct chairman for the Republican Party in Johnson County and served with the American Legion Boys State Program for 18 years.

About the candidate: Zang said his priorities are to bring about fiscal accountability, responsibility and a common-sense approach to traffic concerns. He would also like to see greater accountability for the city's public works department on drainage, streets, sidewalks and curbs. He said he would also work to keep Keller's identity unique. He would like to borrow ideas and best practices from neighboring cities but not copy other cities, he said.

Place 3

Name: Tom Cawthra

Age: 40

Occupation: Vice president of mortgage at First Financial Bank in Keller, Southlake and Trophy Club

Online:www.vote-tom.com

Background: He earned a bachelor of arts in journalism from Texas A&M University. He has served on the Keller Economic Development Board since 2006 and is now its vice chairman.

About the candidate: Cawthra said his goals include bringing about a unified City Council that displays professionalism, courtesy, respect and dignity when considering diverse opinions. He wants to be creative with economic development in a slowing economy, keep property values respectable, and add more parks and trails to support youth sports and a healthy, outdoor lifestyle. He said he would ensure that the city police and fire departments have everything they need to respond quickly.

Name: Bob Kirk (incumbent)

Age: 47

Occupation: Aircraft mechanic

Online:www.bobkirk.org

Background: Kirk attended Shasta Community College in Redding, Calif. He served three years on the Keller Parks and Recreation Board, including one year as vice chairman. He has served two years in Place 3.

About the candidate: He said his priorities are to provide leadership to ensure that the council focuses on basic services, such as fire and police protection, streets and drainage. He said he would resist attempts to return to the "monument building" priorities of the past. He said he wants to address drainage problems near Bear Creek and prevent development of multifamily housing. He also wants to mitigate harm caused by natural gas drilling in the city.

Name: Bob Welch

Age: 49

Occupation: Keller business owner and consultant

Online: bobwelchforplace3@verizon.net

Background: Welch studied business at Tarrant County College. He said he has experience in public safety, management and municipal issues. He said he is active in a number of community groups and the city.

About the candidate: Welch said he would ensure that the voice of the majority is heard and reflected via votes on the City Council. He said he would enforce the Unified Development Code and opposes adding multifamily zoning anywhere in the city and residential development in Town Center.

Place 4

Name: Jim Carson (incumbent)

Age: 45

Occupation: Actuary

Online:www.kellercitylimits.com

Background: He earned a bachelor of business administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta, and is an associate of the Society of Actuaries. He has served two years on the council, including one year as mayor pro tem.

About the candidate: His priorities would be to ensure that the Rufe Snow Drive and North Tarrant Parkway projects are completed and that existing city roads are repaired. He also wants to improve drainage issues discovered during spring 2007 flooding. He said he will work to ensure that sewer infrastructure in north Keller is extended and that at least two more fire stations are built in the city.

Name: Jim Thompson

Age: 50

Occupation: American Airlines captain

Online: www.thompsonforkeller.com

Background: He earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was chairman of the Keller Veterans Memorial Park Project, and is a past president and active member of the Keller Rotary Club.

About the candidate: He said he wants to work to upgrade the city Web site and newsletters. He said he believes it is also important to have good communication between the community and the city leadership. He said he would make the best decisions for the community when it comes to apartments. He said the question of how to finance public art needs to be revisited.