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Candidates square off at chamber forum
Kelsey Kruzich/ Staff Photo: Left, Will Sowell and Dan Bollner, who are running for Place 3 on the Frisco City Council, discuss business opportunities for the city.
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
Candidates typically do whatever they can to separate themselves from their opponent and show why they are the best person for the office.
However, at a candidate forum sponsored by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, the candidates seeking spots on the Frisco City Council and the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees spent almost all of their time agreeing with one another on a variety of topics, although controversial subjects such as Exide and The Arts Center of North Texas were not discussed.
The hour-long debate had none of the political fireworks or name calling that were present all too often during the 2011 election season. As expected from a forum sponsored by the chamber, many questions dealt with ways to attract business to Frisco and what kind of future development is best for the city of 126,000.
One of the questions asked of the four city council candidates was if they believed Frisco should continue to pursue a development plan of having 40 percent commercial and 60 percent residential.
All the council candidates said that the percentage seemed about right, but they did differ slightly on what the city should do to continue to attract business.
"One of the challenges we have in Frisco when it comes to bringing commercial development and commercial jobs is the lack of available inventory and office space," said Will Sowell, who is seeking the Place 3 seat currently held by Pat Fallon. "We need to bring a little more of the Class A [office space] online so we can build up some inventory to make it a little bit easier for those companies to relocate."
Sowell's opponent, Dan Bollner, agreed, but said the proper balance of commercial development needs to be maintained.
"The mix is good as we all agreed, but the key will be keeping it at the proper level," Bollner said. "We want Frisco to be a business destination city, therefore we are looking for balance. The one to keep the eye on is that retail doesn't get out of balance. It is good, but it needs to stay in balance. The real sweet spot is technology and light manufacturing, that bring higher value jobs that have a lower demand on municipal services."
The other council race is for Place 1, and features two candidates: incumbent Bob Allen and challenger Brent Bilhartz. Allen said the city is on the right track with development and should continue on its current course.
"The mixture is about right," said Allen, who is seeking his fourth term on the council. "We need to follow the master plan. Planning is easy, the execution is the hard part. We continue to follow the master plan and put the buildings, the businesses and the employment centers in places where it makes the most sense for them to be. That will give us a positive impact on the tax rate and a positive effect on job growth."
Bilhartz said he thinks the current development has left the city in a prime situation to attract new business and residents.
"We have a nice geography in our city where we have two central corridors in Preston Road and the Tollway, and spilling over onto either side of those corridors, which is where professional jobs and most of our office space can go," he said. "And then spreading out on either side is where our [houses] can be. This gives our professional citizens that we already have in town a chance to commute within the city."
In addition to the council candidates, the two men seeking Frisco ISD Place 6, Allen Biehl and Chris Todd, were also present.
The biggest issue facing school districts across Texas is the lack of state funding for education, so many of the questions dealt with that topic. Both candidates agreed that the state's funding formula needed to be changed, while also complimenting the current Frisco ISD board and administration on the work they have done during the last two years when the district lost millions in state money.
Frisco ISD currently has a combined tax rate of $1.42 per $100 of assessed value, with $1 of that going to maintenance and operations. The maximum M&O rate allowed without voter approval is $1.04, but that amount can increased to $1.17 if voters approve a tax ratification election (TRE). While both candidates described themselves as fiscal conservatives, they also said they recognized a TRE may be necessary in the future, but only after all other options were exhausted.
"Sadly, the way we are funding public schools today out of Austin is a travesty," Biehl said. "It is a situation that has built over the years of passing laws, filing lawsuits, fixing the lawsuits and filing more lawsuits. We have gotten to a point where it really is ridiculous. ... We have one of the lowest tax rates in the area right now. To keep the commitment that we have made to our students, and the commitment to the size of the schools, unfortunately I think that will happen."
Todd agreed, pointing out that Frisco ISD is growing each year, requiring additional money to hire staff and construct new buildings.
"Right now our district is involved in a lawsuit addressing the legality of the state funding of schools," Todd said. "We continue to grow, adding 3,000 to 3,500 students a year. We have four schools opening this year. We have to have a place for the students. I do think we need to be as efficient as possible with funds, but [a TRE] may have to happen."
Both candidates also said they were concerned with teacher to student ratios, which have increased during recent years. Todd said it is something the district needs to address, while Biehl suggested finding ways to cut funds from central administration in order to put additional funds into the classroom.
In addition to Biehl and Todd, Ron Pigman will also appear on the Frisco ISD Place 6 ballot. However, Pigman has announced he is suspending his campaign and is not actively seeking election. Incumbent John Hoxie, Place 7, and Brenda Polk, Place 1, are running unopposed.
Early voting begins April 30 and runs until May 8, with Election Day set for May 12. For polling locations, polling hours and precinct information, visit www.friscotexas.gov/ government/citySecretary/Pages/Elections.aspx and www. friscoisd.org/ly/news/Timelinefor2012Elections.htm.
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