January 31 brings a special election the City of Katy, when local voters will choose the person to succeed Councilmember Dan Smith in representing Ward A – either Cara Bonin or Paula Taylor, both long-time residents of the city. The Katy Times posed the same questions to each candidate, and their answers are below for voters to consider. (Responses have been edited for length, clarity and adherence to AP style. Candidates are listed in ballot order).


*What propelled you to run for the Ward A council position?


TAYLOR: I’m very interested in the kinds of issues that come before City Council. Local government makes the decisions that affect our daily lives the most: Is the trash picked up? Are the streets in good repair? Are the neighborhoods safe? Are there parks nearby? I want to make sure that my voice and those of my neighbors are heard as important decisions that affect the safety, mobility and character of our city are made.


BONIN: Initially I felt unheard and unrepresented in my ward, and many of my neighbors were expressing the same concerns. Very specific issues were repeatedly brought before city council without being addressed. Hours before the deadline, I saw that the newly vacated seat was going to be uncontested, and then my neighbor told me she wished I would run. I felt compelled to step forward and run. There have been at least five uncontested seats resulting in no election in Katy recently. I see that as a reflection of our lack of involvement in the local political system as a whole and I want to change the apathy among my neighbors.


*What are your unique qualifications to represent Ward A on council?


TAYLOR: While Katy is not my hometown by birth, it is my hometown by choice. I’ve lived in the Katy area since 1986 and have always been active in church and community. I’ve served on the Keep Katy Beautiful board for ten years, which has allowed me to learn more about the way city government functions and brought matters of concern within the city to my attention, and has also given me opportunities to work alongside city employees during planning sessions for city events and as a volunteer at many events. I’m also a teacher at the original, and only, public high school within the city limits. I am surrounded daily by co-workers and students who live nearby, meaning they drive through the same traffic I do, deal with the same frustrations over road and bridge construction, etc. I do not leave the city every day for work, I’m right here, not only in the city limits, but within Ward A, as well.


BONIN: As a sixth generation Katy Texan, I have deep roots in the community and a lifelong commitment to civic engagement. I have lived through Katy’s transformation from a small rural town into a bustling urban sprawl. Experiencing 40+ years of growth and growing pains has given me a unique perspective on how change affects residents’ quality of life and what the proper role of government should be-measured, responsive and focused on serving the community rather than expanding for its own sake.

My experience includes running a nonprofit, student government leadership, service as a precinct chair, several years as an election judge, participation as a delegate or alternate to county, state and national conventions, over twenty years attending City Council meetings in Brookshire and Katy, and more than a decade of testifying at the Texas state capitol on proposed legislation.


*What is the most significant issue that needs to be addressed in Ward A?


TAYLOR: For new areas, such as Young Ranch: Looking for ways to make sure I-10 doesn’t become a north/south divide that leaves those residents feeling isolated and out of touch with the city. I want to ensure those residents are aware of city events, recreational opportunities, summer camps for kids, etc. For older areas, infrastructure is the biggest concern. That includes streets with cracks, busy streets with no sidewalks, drainage issues, and access into and out of the neighborhoods. One example: Getting out of West Katy onto Hwy. 90 is difficult with the increased traffic coming from the west. Walkability, sidewalks and crosswalks are another concern. We live in a small town, and it’s frustrating to be geographically close to the downtown area, with shopping and city events in the town square, but be unable to walk to those events because it’s difficult to access that area on foot from the neighborhoods west of Ave. D.


BONIN: Outdated Infrastructure: Flooding, mobility issues, and a challenging permitting process are citywide challenges that directly affect the people of Ward A. Addressing them requires coordinated planning, transparent decision-making and fiscally responsible budgeting to protect homes and businesses, improve quality of life and safeguard taxpayer resources.


*What are the three most significant issues facing the City of Katy as a whole?


TAYLOR: 1. Staying safe: As population grows, the city must budget for increased police, fire, EMS and public works to keep up with the increasing demands on those services. 2. Staying sustainable: Flood prevention and water use: Encourage smart planting and look for alternate sources of water; Traffic mitigation: Routing commuters from developments outside the city limits around the city or along the perimeter toward major transportation routes, with minimal disruption to established neighborhoods. 3. Staying special: Keep the hometown quality that longtime residents cherish and new residents find charming. Keep Katy a city that people want to come home to. If elected, my priorities will focus on the issues that matter most to residents:

· Managing growth responsibly while preserving the character of our community

· Proactively addressing mobility and traffic challenges resulting from the growing population of the Katy area

· Continuing efforts to improve drainage and reduce future flooding risks

· Ensuring city services remain responsive, reliable, and up to date

· Supporting the expansion of parks, hiking and biking trails, and family-friendly spaces as well as increased walkability for city residents accessing city amenities


BONIN: The most significant challenges facing the City of Katy are not confined to a single ward. They are city wide issues that cross ward boundaries and affect residents throughout the community. Rapid growth has left some areas of both wards with insufficient and outdated infrastructure that is not capable of meeting current and future needs.

A growing concern is maintaining a clean and reliable water supply as the city transitions to increased use of surface water which represents a significant cost to residents. We have questions about paying more for water that may be lower in quality. There are reasonable inquiries about whether existing treatment systems are adequately prepared to consistently meet appropriate standards with a new water source, particularly given the volume of chemicals currently permitted in the treatment process. As we are asked to absorb higher costs to protect public health, the city leadership must operate with transparency, careful oversight and clear accountability.

Daily city operations have also been impacted by continuous growth. Ensuring departments are adequately staffed with trained professional employees who are efficiently responsive to the public is vital. Reviewing and improving standard operating procedures to enhance efficiency, coordination and customer service for residents and businesses will be a priority.

*The information packets prepared for each council meeting are large and detailed. How do you plan to prepare for council meetings and what additional outside research will you do in addition to what has been provided to you?


TAYLOR: Setting aside personal time to dig into new and challenging content has been my habit for the entirety of my professional life. Over the years, I’ve repeatedly chosen to take on new teaching assignments, including three different advanced placement courses. In education, it’s generally up to the individual teacher to learn new content and learn it well enough to instruct others. Working my way through the council information packets will be a continuation of that habit. Searching online for more information regarding issues that are new to me, asking for input from professionals in the field, and seeking clarification, when needed, from city employees are the methods I envision using on a regular basis to prepare for Council meetings.


BONIN: I will begin review as soon as the packets are released and set a practical pace to prevent delirium. In addition to the packet, I will review relevant ordinances, budgets, statutes, contracts, prior council actions and maintain open communication with the city secretary’s office for clarification. During meetings I will use Robert’s Rules of Order to raise a point of information or support tabling an item when additional review is needed. I’ll also invite constituents to review the packets when they become available to the public and share their insights and opinions with me before the meetings and of course, during public comment at city council meetings.


*What else should readers of the Katy Times know about you and your plans for the City of Katy?


TAYLOR: About me: Readers should know that I have a strong work ethic and have built a reputation for having high expectations combined with a sense of fairness. I like to believe I’m known as a person with discretion, integrity and common sense. Because of the subjects I’ve taught and currently teach, I like to know and understand both sides of an issue before I make up my mind, and even after I’ve come to my own conclusion, I appreciate hearing other opinions and thoughts on a subject. I truly believe that I can disagree with someone’s position on an issue while continuing to have a friendly relationship with them. My plans for the city: At the end of my term of service, I’d like to be able to point to projects that have improved the day-to-day life of residents and be able to say I had a hand in that. I hope to live in a Katy that’s still recognizable as the small town that first drew me here 40 years ago, but with new and improved mobility, more outdoor spaces for recreation and an even more deserved reputation for being a hometown to come home to.


BONIN: I am passionate about my family, my animals, my work and my home in Katy, and I will extend the same care and commitment when serving in this position to improve our city government. I am comfortable with challenging the status quo when change is needed. I value collaboration but will not hesitate to ask hard questions or vote against the majority. Outside of civic involvement, I enjoy live music, Mexican food, IPAs, Whiskey, puzzles, antiques, genealogy, museums, reading and traveling.