Election day for Kyle City Council District 5 and 6 seats is May 9. The Hays Free Press asked the six Kyle council candidates the following ten questions. Answers printed as submitted.
See the other candidates responses here: 

District 5 candidates: Damon Fogley, Laurie Luttrell, Jaime Sanchez

District 6 candidates: Tammy Swaton, Dex Ellison, Daphne Tenorio

Laurie Luttrell, District 5
General Manager of a retail liquor store

1. What are the most important policies Kyle needs to implement to ensure it reaches and maintains sustainability?  The most effective policies to achieve sustainability are a comprehensive plan, including a master transportation plan which the city is currently updating. A debt management policy, which is required under our City Charter, is an important policy for limiting the amount of debt the city takes on. In addition, we need a good policy for determining criteria for evaluating economic development incentives. These policies are already in place. I believe, however, that we should evaluate our subdivision ordinances to allow for greater diversity in our housing types to include courtyard housing, a greater range of town homes, and the types of housing that are available elsewhere in the markets now. 

2. What are three achievable goals you would champion during your term?  The three goals I believe are achievable within the terms of a council member are (1) the erection of a traffic light at FM 1626 and Kohler’s Crossing for greater safety (2) streamlining of the development process for small businesses to encourage greater diversity of business types and to help revitalize the downtown area (3) improvements in the amount of sidewalks along our streets and lighting in our neighborhoods for greater safety.

3. What do you believe is the number one issue facing Kyle?  The City of Kyle’s number one issue is that our tax rate is too high to be competitive with the other city’s along the I-35 Corridor. Our taxes will be going up another 10 to 14 cents due to the road bond and other costs. If our tax rate becomes too high, it will be too great a burden to keeping our city an affordable place to live. 

4. What ideas do you have for branding the city as a tourist destination?  I’m not certain that Kyle will ever be a “tourist destination” like San Antonio or even New Braunfels, but I would love to bring back the logo of “Simply Charming” which I think really describes what Kyle is about. I’m also working with the Lions Club to return the Fajita Festival to Kyle. As Kyle is the home of the birth of the fajita in 1969 by Sonny Falcon, this is a great historical and cultural event that the City should embrace and celebrate each year. I would also promote the completion and development of the Depot as a Visitor’s Center for Kyle. The restoration of our Water Tower would also be important as it can be seen from I-35 and is featured in so many places as an image that is associated with Kyle. I think we could also do more to promote existing programs, such as the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center, the Parks and Recreation events, and the pie festival. I would love to see the city work with other groups to develop more events and festivals for the enjoyment of the community and area residents. 

5. What is the name of your neighborhood and what is the most pressing issue for residents there?  I live in Plum Creek and our biggest issues are the on-street parking on narrow streets and the high rates for water (which is a city-wide issue). 

6. Do you have any professional experience that will help you as an elected official?  Yes. As a prior small business owner, I know how to budget expenses and revenues. I grew one of my previous businesses from $1.5 million to $2.7 million in gross sales. And I did so by understanding the difference between a “want” and a “need.” I fully understand the impact of high taxes and fees on business owners and their decision-making on where to locate. I relocated to Kyle and purchased a small business in 2007 because of the low taxes, the potential for high growth, and the friendly environment towards new businesses. We currently have no business owners on the City Council. That needs to change.

7. What do you see as the greatest threats and opportunities for the future of Kyle?  The greatest threats to the future of Kyle are our ever-growing tax rates that threaten our ability to compete with other cities for new businesses, continue to construct the infrastructure we need, and could destroy our town as an affordable place to live. The need to replace our aging infrastructure and to continue to expand it into new areas is a threat to our ability to support our future growth. But, we have wonderful opportunities for the future in that we are located on the growth corridor of I-35. We also have great opportunities to expand our city to the east and to revitalize our downtown area. 

8. Why should voters elected you over your opponents?  I have the ability to work with people, know how to negotiate, and I don’t feel like I have to “win” in every situation. As a former small business owner, I can help implement new programs to encourage the expansion of our small businesses in Kyle. I also have a lifetime of experiences that my opponents have not yet had the opportunity to obtain. 

9. What should our readers know about you before they head to the voting booth?  I will listen to all of my constituents and will be available to them through my personal cell phone and email. I am independent and have a strong backbone. I will not be swayed by special interests, nor will I join “voting blocks” on the city council. I answer to the voters, first and foremost. I will also do my due diligence and study all the issues that come before the council so that I will be as well informed as possible. 

10. What is the most recent book you read? 

The last book I read was John Grisham’s Gray Mountain.