City Council Seat Contested with one Week Left

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One hundred and thirty one voters have come out to vote in the Kennedale City Council Election that has incumbent Frank Fernandez being challenged by Hollis Matthews. Three hundred and thirty five voters have voted in the KISD Board Elections in a race that has incumbent Joe Taylor challenged by Jeff Krieger. {{more}}

Early voting continues this weekend from 7am to 7 pm today (Saturday) and Sunday from 11am to 4 pm at the Kennedale Community Center at 316 W Third St, Kennedale, TX 76060. Early voting ends Tuesday. Election Day is Saturday, May 9th.

The following information was published by the Star

Telegram in their Voter Guide to help voters needing more information about the candidates running for the Kennedale City Council and is presented in the order that was used in the Voter

Guide.

Kennedale City

Council, Place 5

 
Frank Fernandez Age: 59, Occupation: Small business Owner

Frank Fernandez
Education background, including all degrees:
 
Bachelor of Business Administration from UTA
 
Highlights of your current and past civic involvement:
 
Kennedale Planning and Zoning Board from 2007-2011; City Council Member, Place 5 from 2011-Present
 
In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office.
 
I have been a small business owner for 20 years. The responsibilities of a city council member in a small town are similar to those of an entrepreneur. In both situations you are restricted by money and resources while trying to do what is best for your customers and constituents. Constant communication is required to give confidence in your ability for both responsibilities. Other commonalities include the ability to set and maintain long term goals while being short term flexible. Both roles require the ability to listen, observe, and speak with a strong voice.
 
In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them.
 
Three issues presently facing the city of Kennedale include a limited budget, rapidly expanding population, and future infrastructural commitments. A limited budget can be eased by leveraging tax dollars with other government entities. Expanding populations require infrastructure improvement in the south part of Kennedale which can be funded using tax increment refinancing zone to leverage future tax bases. Future expenses can be mitigated through shared responsibility with state and county resources by expanding cooperative efforts with County Commissioner, Andy Nguyen, and State Representatives.
 

Hollis Matthews Age: 74, Occupation: President, Matthews Insurance Group, Inc.

Hollis Matthews
  • Contact numbers Bus: 817 563 5555 Cell: 817 797 1098
  • Campaign (public) phone number: 817 563 5555
  • Campaign (public) email address: [email protected]
  • Web site: www.matthewsinsurance.com

Education background, including all degrees: South Plains College; University of Maryland (Europe)

 
Highlights of your current and past civic involvement:
 
Kennedale Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Directors Kennedale Chamber of Commerce, Kennedale Water Board, Arlington Kiwanis Club, Kennedale Rotary Club, Hearts -Hands Charity, and Vice President Lubbock Community Concert.

I have twenty six years experience in corporate, technical and marketing, management including Sr. Marketing Vice President of a multi-state insurance company. I have owned and operated a successful insurance agency in Arlington for the pat twenty four years.

I wrote the Kennedale city ordinance for the conservation of trees, created the tree bank for replacement of trees, wrote gas well management ordinances, provided citizen input to the Council on city budget matters, and provided insight for needed water infrastructure improvement, which has been adopted. I am working on a youth center concept for Kennedale, KISD and S.W. Arlington.
 

In 100 words or less, please explain how your background, skills and experience make you the best qualified candidate for this office.

 
The most critical problems facing the Kennedale City Council are: the need to improve recreational facilities for our children, manage our city budget in a balanced manner, and interfacing with KISD on projects that will improve the quality of our village.
 
In 100 words or less, please outline the three most critical problems facing the public office you are seeking and the solutions you propose to address them.
 
The solutions are: open an area community center, make attracting new businesses a number one priority to improve tax income, and set up a committee of city council and school board members charged with integrating mutual projects which will benefit our community.

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