Candidates for Buda City Council were asked the following questions:
1. Why did you decide to run for a seat on the Buda Council?
2. What are the top three issues affecting Buda?
3. How will you address the number one issue affecting the city?
4. The Buda ballot also will have bond propositions totaling $55 million. The funding will be used for street, infrastructure and park improvements. If all are approved, the city’s debt could triple. Why or why not should voters support the proposition?
5. Do you have any professional experience that will help you as an elected official?
6. Why should voters elect you over your opponent?
7. What should our readers know about you?
8. If you won a $1 million lottery, how would you spend that money?
1. Why did you decide to run for a seat on the Buda Council?
Altmiller: Two years ago, my husband and children encouraged me to run for City Council. I have the time, energy and commitment to serve and have been an effective and hardworking member of the council since I was elected in 2012. There is a steep learning curve for anyone who is elected to the City Council. I have attended council meetings, planning and zoning, parks, historical and library commission meetings for 12 years and have been involved in the community for 24 years. Buda is at a crucial point in its development and needs an experienced and informed City Council committed to the city and its future, not single issue candidates. Finally, having the opportunity to work with dedicated colleagues and excellent staff towards a common purpose is always rewarding.
Ture: I have spoken at Council and Parks & Rec meetings and around the community, but I quickly sensed a resistance from an influential few to the matters I was supporting, matters that concerned families who wanted to be able to build their families here and enjoy a sense of community at businesses and spaces here in Buda without having to leave the city for food, community, and the arts. As I listened to others in Buda, I heard the same desire to celebrate the history of our city while encouraging progress. Citizens and friends – who knew my character, my work ethic, my experience, and what I do for a living – encouraged me to run, citing the lack of representation in Place 5 for families who felt that same longing. So I decided to step up and dedicate my time and experience to serve the city I love.
2. What are the top three issues affecting Buda?
Altmiller: 1) Growth- Buda has experienced dramatic growth in the last 14 years and has been cited as the fastest growing small community in Texas with a population over 10,000. This strains our infrastructure, our roads, our access to water and wastewater facilities, and our city staff. 2) Maintaining Quality of Life – And these issues are different for different people. These are not just parks and libraries, but access to water, having safe streets and roads, adequate drainage, taxes that are reasonable so that you can afford to live here, and amenities that make your life easier. 3) Transportation – The Texas A & M Transportation Institute has issued a sobering report on mobility in the Central Texas area. We need to work cooperatively as a region to solve the transportation challenges ahead.
Ture: The Number 1 issue is the impact of rapid growth in Buda on virtually every aspect of life. Traffic and transportation, safety, infrastructure problems, and many other growing pains stem from this same factor. Number 2 is the possibility of becoming just “Anytown, USA”. We have a unique city that is not just a suburb of Austin or a sleepy rural town. We have a rich history and the resources here to avoid being a blandly ordinary town where people just sleep, but go elsewhere for work, play, and everything else. We are dangerously close to becoming this if we don’t encourage progress, while celebrating the history. Number 3 is becoming an increasingly difficult issue throughout Central Texas: water rights and water security. We need to be intentional and strategic in our contracts and stewardship of this resource now to ensure the health of our land and citizens in perpetuity.
3. How will you address the number one issue affecting the city?
Altmiller: Growth is the number one issue facing Buda. Buda needs to grow gracefully being sensitive to quality of life challenges that accompany rapid growth in our state , – access to water, transportation, facilities, infrastructure,public safety,wastewater, compatibility between different community functions, library services and parks while maintaining a reasonable tax rate and preserving the things we value most about Buda. I will continue to work to implement the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and have championed the revision of the Unified Development Code so that it implements the vision and values in the Comprehensive Plan. As a city, we are in an enviable location in Central Texas, and have an educated, diverse population that is attractive to business. We have the opportunity to plan our city and implement the plan to have the kind of city we really want to live in.
Ture: My approach to handling the impact of rapid growth will be guided by my belief in sustainable, safe, and financially responsible homesteads for years to come. In that light, I will review and evaluate the options and plans before the city as laid out in our Comprehensive Plan, its ensuing Plans, and our Buda Economic Development Strategic Plan. Parts of the Bond Propositions start this work, but I will address higher traffic volume from multiple angles. Road work itself is the beginning, but we also need to foster businesses that will address people’s needs without having to drive so far. Long-term job creation from these businesses helps alleviate traffic by keeping Budites in Buda. Trail access between neighborhoods and key facilities like the parks and downtown would also mitigate congestion during events and weekends and allow families to recreate as long as the trails are safe and accessible.
4. The Buda ballot also will have bond propositions totaling $55 million. The funding will be used for street, infrastructure and park improvements. If all are approved, the city’s debt could triple. Why or why not should voters support the proposition?
Altmiller: Under state law council members, city officials & city staff cannot advocate for or against a bond, but we can provide factual information. The City Council members each suggested one appointment for the bond committee and city staff selected five resulting in a 12 member bond committee. After examining city planning documents, months of discussion, and public input meetings, the bond committee voted unanimously to request a $55 million bond . Information on the bond process and information on the contents of the bond election can be found on the City of Buda website at http://www.ci.buda.tx.us/index.aspx?NID=388
The bond is divided into 5 different propositions based on bond counsel advice, best practices and Texas attorney general opinions. With the bond election, the citizens of Buda will have an opportunity to make strategic decisions about the future development of the city.
Ture: Firstly, I push for building projects through steady growth of the regular budget as the city grows instead of borrowing. However, it is important to note that our city has rapidly grown and some needs have developed. Know that however you vote on the Propositions, as Councilman, I will be a prudent steward of city borrowing. For example, Bond Proposition 1 covers a new municipal facility including City Hall and the Library, but just as I don’t buy a new car before I’ve factored in what to do with the old, I won’t approve borrowing under Prop 1 until there is a healthy plan for the current facilities. More to the point, Props 3 & 4 are essentially necessary; 1 & 2 are good but we shouldn’t have to borrow that amount on them; I love 5 for our city to be more connected and to improve our green spaces.
5. Do you have any professional experience that will help you as an elected official?
Altmiller: In my 32 years in Higher Education and as a Manager, I worked with people, budgets and technology in the midst of rapid change. I served at St. Edward’s University for 32 years as a librarian, Library Director and university Director of Faculty Grants supervising coworkers while managing budgets and technology. I chaired the State of Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board Library Advisory Subcommittee and also served on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s TexShare Advisory Board having a statewide impact on schools, libraries, both public and private universities and information resources that as a state we continue to enjoy to this day. Throughout my career, I listened to the needs of different constituencies, learned the system, worked hard and advocated for others.
Ture: I am an engineer working just down the road in Kyle, and a large component of what I do involves working through the needs of municipal governments. Specifically I am in Technical Sales, so I work with cities, supporting projects as they work through issues of right-of-way, budgetary impact, economic impact studies, utility easements, zoning, grant and incentive money, interconnection studies, and environmental health and safety (EHS). I sit on the board of a trade association in the energy sector with the stated goal to “reduce the energy costs”, guiding their every-day interactions with government agencies and officials. I am literally paid for my experience working with and for municipal governments, so yes, I have professional experience that will help me as an elected official. I will continue to learn as I advocate for Buda, our city that I am well acquainted with and love.
6. Why should voters elected you over your opponent?
Altmiller: I am informed, committed and involved having lived in the City limits and paid property taxes for 28 years. I have demonstrated my commitment by volunteering in the community 24 years and have learned about city government firsthand attending dozens of City Council, Planning and Zoning and Historic Commission meetings and over the years I have met frequently with city officials. I am thoughtful, have good judgment and experience. I listen to people, research the issues thoroughly and make a decision. I will work for all the citizens of Buda. I’m not a single issue, special interest candidate. With its growth, Buda is facing challenges that demand an experienced and informed council.
Ture: I listen to the citizens of Buda and make myself available for their thoughts and comments before discerning the best course of action and voicing my opinion. I will be a voice for the citizens of Buda of all demographics, and not just express my own Independent Voice. The vast majority of the population of Buda that has contributed to this rapid growth has been families coming to Buda to raise their kids here. If you take a look at the Council, you will see that working families are severely underrepresented by the Councilmen and Councilwomen. I am a gainfully employed father, and I will bring a fresh perspective to the council chambers.
7. What should our readers know about you?
Altmiller: People who serve on our Commissions and City Council are making decisions that affect our homes, our neighborhoods and community. After attending a workshop at the Texas Municipal League, I championed the establishment of a free Citizens Academy without a steep fee so that each time twenty residents of Buda could learn about city government and how it worked. Now we hope to have a ready supply of knowledgeable and involved citizens to serve on our Commissions and City Council. I have championed good government and ethics training and have never accepted campaign contributions from special interests, or even friends. Recently, I was one of 30 Texas government officials in a Coalition of Cities from across the state who testified and advocated for consumers regarding utility rates before the Texas Railroad Commission. I am energetic, idealistic and expect government to work for people.
Ture: My wife, Dahlia, and I have a little baby girl, Autumn, who we plan to raise here in Buda. I’ve been shaped by my family and my community, and I now have the opportunity, with the citizens of Buda, to shape the community that Autumn is raised in. I want her to grow up in the rich history of this city. I want her to be safe throughout Buda, and this is of the utmost importance as the city continues to grow, giving rise to increased traffic. I will infrastructurally boost safety, but I will also encourage it through carrying the spirit of events like National Night Out to the everyday life of Budites. I engage and listen to citizens throughout the city, not just in my neighborhood, and will continue to promote this spirit in the community, both personally and as a Councilman.
8. If you won a $1 million lottery, how would you spend that money?
Altmiller: If I won a million dollar lottery, the first thing I would do is hire a tax attorney and financial advisor to advise me on the best method to claim the winnings – lump sum or paid out over 25 – 30 years since the taxes due would be substantial – about 30 – 35% . With the remaining amount, I would create a charitable “donor advised fund” to support the institutions and organizations I trust and value. Next, I would give gifts to my family at a level that would not trigger a gift tax on their part. My car is twelve years old, so I might buy a newer car. My husband would like a Vistadome Observation train car but those are pricey (about $250,000), so I might save that for a $10 million lottery.
Ture: Dahlia and I would have some very long talks and pray for discernment just as we do with all major financial decisions. We would ask some close family and friends who love and care for us for counsel. It would probably include getting ourselves and some of those family and friends out of debt, buying a long-term homestead, and then probably investing in a local business if not starting one of our own. Dahlia is a fantastic cook and we have often dreamed about opening something up in Buda to serve dishes made with local, seasonal fare. What we would want for that money is to free up ourselves and others around us to be able to serve our community better. Through the planning though, I would be remiss if I did not take my wife on a very special date!
See reponses from Place 6 candidates Greg Henry and Bobby Lane here.
Read about the five propositions of the $55 million Buda bond here.
