Arlington District 4 City Council candidates
Billy McClendon
Age: 49
Occupation: pastor/high school teacher
Education: Graduate degree/ working on Doctoral
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
no
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Austin ISD Advisory Board, Minister’s Alliance,
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
no
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
no
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
n/a
Why are you seeking this office?
I am running to be an effective, elected official that will work as part of a team to establish a shared vision for the future, develop goals and plans that make that future possible, and work with colleagues and constituents to enact the local policies and laws that will ultimately lead to accomplishment. Holding a public office is all about the people – that is, service to all the residents of a city or town, not just those who share your views or those who voted for you. It is a challenge that will require every elected official to rise above the nonsense, to reach beyond comfort zones, and to work with others with whom they may have significant differences. Democracy works when we rise to the challenge!
What are the biggest challenges facing your district?
Relationship building between law enforcement and the neighborhood. Infrastructure upgrades.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
1) Equality for Life, 2) Community Development, 3) Infrastructure improvements
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I understand the challenges that they, and their family, face every day and that I have practical solutions that can make their lives a little bit better. I am here for the people!
City leaders have encouraged redevelopment of older property as the city runs short on commercial land. What, if anything, would you propose to entice developers to rebuild?
Redevelopment of older property should be a priority anyway. Now for developers to rebuild would require tax reduction and other entitlements.
The Unity Council proposed over 50 recommendations to create equity throughout the city. What are your thoughts on the final report? What recommendations from the report and/or other solutions would you advocate to enact, if any?
I believe that inequalities because of racism takes a long time to overcome. This is a good starting point for the city but the problem is there is always commissions and councils and committees to look at “problems” but there is usually very little action after the peek into the problem. And this has been going on for years. It always takes an “incident” to get people to talk about changes but nothing happens.
Arlington voters approved funding for a city economic development corporation to attract large businesses while supporting local ones. What should be the group’s priority or priorities during its first year?
Priority one should be take care of the local businesses first! Those who have been faithful and staying the course even going through a pandemic.
Last year’s Term Limits Advisory Committee recommend letting candidates serve for eight years, then return two years after. Would you support a proposal to place the recommendations on the ballot? Why or why not?
Eight years is too long. Start to look like the state and US Congress. People who stay too long and continue to do nothing. I believe a term of 3 to 4 with a return after two would be sufficient. Long enough to get something done and still keep fresh people involved with new ideas.
Does Via, the citywide rideshare program, adequately fill the demand for transportation in Arlington? What, if any, programs or services should the city consider to complement Via?
Considering we are going through a pandemic, travel has not been as brisk as would be during normal times. So assessment can be misleading at this point. I believe we should not rule out any ideas for citywide transportation yet. Not until things get back to some normalcy.
How would you grade the city’s response to the loss of power and water from the winter storm, and what steps should the city take to better prepare for the next extreme weather event?
The grade for the city’s response to the loss of power and water was fair. Considering that the state was in the predicament it was in due lack of preparation and winterization Arlington was fair. The entire system should be looked at new standards implemented as was the case the last time this happened in 2011. Nobody listened then.
If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to constituents in your district?
Call me, email me, IM me, Facebook!
Anne Nwaefulu
No website yet
Age: 58 years old
Occupation: Attorney At Law
Education: Juris Doctor, LL.B, B.L and JD
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
No
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
President Nigerian American Lawyers Association of Dallas (NALAD)
Volunteer at the Arlington Life Shelter from 2010 to present
Pro bono legal services.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
None, purely self funded campaign.
Why are you seeking this office?
To serve my community. Build trust among the law enforcement and our community, promote diversity in the city of Arlington.
What are the biggest challenges facing your district?
loss of Job, shelter for the needy, equitable distribution of the Covid19 vaccines and open communication and outreach to program to encourage my community to get vaccinated, so our businesses and schools can reopen safely.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
1. safety: proper policing to keep our environment and schools safe. Engaging in open communication and good relationship between our community and the law enforcement agents.
2. Economic needs: Create small and large businesses, encourage expansion of the existing businesses. create incentives and encourage business developments.
3.Education: Providing the educators with adequate and necessary aids, to create a better future for our students, empowering the youths, counselling our communities about various resources available in our community.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I have work knowledge and what it takes to better what we currently have in terms of creating businesses, better schools and equitable distribution of our resources and empowering our communities.
City leaders have encouraged redevelopment of older property as the city runs short on commercial land. What, if anything, would you propose to entice developers to rebuild?
lower property tax, create credit incentives to developers to entice developers to rebuild in Arlington.
The Unity Council proposed over 50 recommendations to create equity throughout the city. What are your thoughts on the final report? What recommendations from the report and/or other solutions would you advocate to enact, if any?
The unity final report is a staring point in building the necessary unity, nondiscriminatory and elimination of racism in our community. The report and the recommendations practicality will be further examined in due course..
Arlington voters approved funding for a city economic development corporation to attract large businesses while supporting local ones. What should be the group’s priority or priorities during its first year?
Job creation. So many jobs were lost in the past year due to Covid19, creating uncertainty for many families.
Last year’s Term Limits Advisory Committee recommend letting candidates serve for eight years, then return two years after. Would you support a proposal to place the recommendations on the ballot? Why or why not?
majority of voters in Arlington have spoken and we need to take that into consideration in future proposals.
Does Via, the citywide rideshare program, adequately fill the demand for transportation in Arlington? What, if any, programs or services should the city consider to complement Via?
No. VIA can be complimented with other modes of transportations, privately managed transportation will give our residents more options and cheaper rates.
How would you grade the city’s response to the loss of power and water from the winter storm, and what steps should the city take to better prepare for the next extreme weather event?
The winter storm was unprecedented. The system lacks redundancy. Response was poor. Rotating blackout could not be effectively managed. This inefficiency resulted in loss of loss of lives and untold hardship for many residents.
If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to constituents in your district?
Phone, email and frequent open dialogs.
Andrew Piel
www.andrewpielforarlington.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Arlington Martin HS, 1990; UT-Austin, BA, Government, 1994; UT School of Law, JD, 1997
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
Arlington City Council in 2019
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Commissioner - 2007-2011
Arlington Planning & Zoning Commission
Member – 2002-2003
Arlington Citizens Budget Review Committee
Member – Both 2014 & 2017
Arlington Citizens Bond Committee
Member - 2013-2014
Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Committee
Member - 2014
Arlington ISD Capital Needs Steering Committee
Former Member - 2008-2009
Arlington Chamber Board of Directors
Past Vice-President
Arlington Education Foundation
Member - 2001 to present
First United Methodist Church
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
Never as a party.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
TREPAC, David Sargent, Mojy Haddad
Why are you seeking this office?
To continue to serve and improve the city I was born and raised in and that shaped me so that the current and future residents have a superior quality of life. Also because of my extensive city service experience as listed on www.andrewpielforarlington.com, my skills as an experienced attorney with city contracts, small business, and other legal issues, and my dedication to the community where I was born and which formed me into the man I am today over the last 47 years. I love the people of Arlington, and care deeply about their future. My experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Commissioner - 2007-2011
Arlington Planning & Zoning Commission
Member – 2002-2003
Arlington Citizens Budget Review Committee
Member – Both 2014 & 2017
Arlington Citizens Bond Committee
Member - 2013-2014
Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Committee
Member - 2014
Arlington ISD Capital Needs Steering Committee
What are the biggest challenges facing your district?
Public safety, older homes that need to attract new buyer who will spend their own money to update them, Property Taxes, and Economic Development.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
My 1st priority will be public safety. The core function of city government is to keep people safe- meaning an effective police & fire departments that earns the trust of everyone in the community. This is critical to ensuring Arlington remains a place where people want to purchase a residence and live. The 2nd priority will be to ensure our residents’ neighborhoods remain a quality place to raise a family and live by focusing on public infrastructure that protects residents homes and keep their neighborhoods attractive. Oftentimes, our residents’ homes are their single largest asset, and key to their retirement. My 3rd priority is to work to lower taxes. The tax burden on homeowners can negatively affect retirees on a fixed income. My 4th (bonus) priority is to keep Arlington an economically-vibrant business community, for both large and small businesses, so that commercial tax provides sufficient funding for public safety and other city services that benefit all residents.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
Because I have gained more experience with issues and development important personal relationships with people form all walks of life in the city over my 49 years of living here and involvement with numerous committees and organizations, and I have been an effective and dedicated representative for the residents of Arlington over the past two years, working on non-high profile but very important matters such as Arlington’s first Comprehensive Drainage and Flooding Control Plan.
City leaders have encouraged redevelopment of older property as the city runs short on commercial land. What, if anything, would you propose to entice developers to rebuild?
I would work on replacing public infrastructure in areas of Arlington that need economic renewal, and ultitizing the City’s new Economic Development Corporation to find well-financed private capital partners who will reinvest in Arlington by demolishing sub-optimal properties, and replacing them with new economic engines that will create jobs and tax revenue that benefit all residents.
The Unity Council proposed over 50 recommendations to create equity throughout the city. What are your thoughts on the final report? What recommendations from the report and/or other solutions would you advocate to enact, if any?
The final report was a valuable, must-read tool to orient oneself as to the work we all must do to ensure children from all backgrounds can grow up safely in Arlington, get a quality education, and control their own economic destiny. Working toward community unity among people of all backgrounds in Arlington will take consistent effort over decade to get where we all want to be- which is a community not tainted by racism and where we all cheer for each other to be successful, no matter our background. I look forward dot implementing the economic strategies suggested to lift-up communities of color that have struggled, and to further work to ensure our police department has the trust of everyone in Arlington.
Arlington voters approved funding for a city economic development corporation to attract large businesses while supporting local ones. What should be the group’s priority or priorities during its first year?
Ensuring public trust is maintained by investing only in projects with financially-sound private sector partners with a track record of success, who also bring a large amount of private financial capital into the project themselves, and provide the city a well-reasoned business-plan showing a clear pathway to profitability (thus extra tax revenue for the city). I also think the EDC should invest in Arlington small businesses that create the opportunity to revitalize our neighborhoods and employ our residents.
Last year’s Term Limits Advisory Committee recommend letting candidates serve for eight years, then return two years after. Would you support a proposal to place the recommendations on the ballot? Why or why not?
I do not support putting it on the ballot at this time, as I do not think the public support for such a change is there at this time.
Does Via, the citywide rideshare program, adequately fill the demand for transportation in Arlington? What, if any, programs or services should the city consider to complement Via?
Yes. We should look to link Via with other surrounding transit agencies.
How would you grade the city’s response to the loss of power and water from the winter storm, and what steps should the city take to better prepare for the next extreme weather event?
I give Arlington a B+, because I proud of how hard city staff and first-res-0nders worked during the crisis, but know there is always room for improvement, especially when it comes to protecting residents’ lives. The city should work with its legislative delegation to demand changes in ERCOT, improvement by Oncor, and replacement of aged electrical infrastructure. I support buying portable electrical generators to provide power to recreation centers so we can open them as shelters in the case of city-wide power loss in extreme weather conditions.
If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to constituents in your district?
By giving them my mobile phone number, 817-366-8810, holding public forums when allowed by COVID-19 recovery, and attending local homeowners association meetings.
Nehal Mehta
Did not respond.
Cheyenne Zokaie
Did not respond.
This story was originally published April 13, 2021 at 1:58 PM.
