By Samantha Smith
With the November Buda City Council Place 2 election fast approaching, the two candidates vying for the position are running with Buda in mind.
Incumbent Place 2 Buda City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Wiley Hopkins is seeking a reelection bid for a second time in order to see various current projects completed. He will go up against Garlic Creek resident Jeffrey Morales, who is running in his first campaign for public office.
Hopkins, who is currently retired, holds a Bachelor’s degree and an MBA in business management.
“I bring a vast amount of experience and knowledge as a professional management leader in business, fiscal and government,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins, who is defending his seat on the council, said he intends on fighting the good fight for voters voice on the council.
“In November, this year I will have served on the Buda City council for forty-five months. During that tenure I have with my peers on the dais, strategized, structured, and approved four annual budgets contributing to citizens’ lowest tax rates in our region,” Hopkins said.
The defending candidate continues to have important goals when it comes to the future of the city of Buda.
“My goals for the city include fulfilling an initiative for major transportation infrastructure improvements, adequately staffing and equipping first responders for citizen safety, and alleviating drainage/flood events in the community through good planning and budgeting,” Hopkins said.
Opponent Morales, a veteran of the military, said he is running for office because of the love he has for Buda.
“My run for city council is solely about my love for the city of Buda – our neighborhoods, diversity, innovative spirit and the youth in our city,” Morales said.
In addition to his extensive military career, Morales also holds an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science, a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, and an MBA in Business.
According to Morales, he plans on bringing to the dais “communication skills, caring for the community, and military experience” that has helped teach him how to be a “good and fair leader.”
Morales said he has big plans for Buda and believes he is the right person to fill the Place 2 seat on the council.
“My goals (for Buda) are to keep taxes as low as possible, to provide great services to the residents of Buda, to ease traffic congestion within our community, to improve and maintain our parks, keep up great community relations with our public safety agencies, and to work on the City’s current and future water needs,” Morales said.
According to Morales, another of his aspirations behind the dais would be to work with Hays CISD to try and get bus service for the neighborhoods in Buda that do not currently get it.
“I am able to make the tough decisions required to be a good representative of the citizens of Buda,” Morales said.
