The third candidates forum for Colleyville candidates was hosted by the Colleyville Lions Club.  All nine candidates made a showing in front of a crowd of approximately 250 attendees at the Colleyville Center on Tuesday night.

Big Boxes in Colleyville:

Taylor: "When the local Wal-Mart and Targets check their charge slips and sales records, sorry to tell some of you this, but they find a great number of their shoppers actually live in Colleyville."

Hocutt: "I look at these buildings and, before I would support them, try to determine who the 2nd and 3rd tenant is going to be.  After all, the school district does not get 1 cent from sales taxes."

Newton: "First of all understand that no big box was ever planned in the city.  This claim was made as a deliberate attempt to stir emotions up for political reasons.  The council has not been honest with the citizens."

Summaries:

Taylor: The election is not about 4-lanes, but about public safety.  "When you have 2 lanes, you better take care of both of them.  For example, the streets should have shoulders versus bar ditches." Concerning the divisiveness on city council, he said that a significant amount of this has been caused by the failure of the mayor to follow rules and decorum.  "Announcements of fake hotels have not brought 1 cent to our tax base."  He said he didn't need to pick a "slate" because he can work with any candidates the public elects.

Hocutt: He said that previous councils "robbed the utility funds" and that his opponents want to have "another chance to widen roads".  He thinks it is important the council members have "the same vision". Hocutt said he had sound business practices and wants the public to "look at my action".  He said he will "bring integrity to city council."

Newton: He said the city is faced with a "$1.6 million shortfall" in next year's budget.  The approach to "stick you head in the sand and say everything is wonderful" is not going to solve this problem.  Newton said the priorities must be established in the following order, "1.) safety, 2.) infrastructure, 3.) amenities."  Newton said that very simply Hocutt is the protégé of Donna Arp and he thinks citizens want a return to Newton's style of leadership and results versus what we have seen over the past two years.

Place 1 Candidates Colleyville City Council

Dave Dudziak

Mark Skinner

Place 2 Candidates for Colleyville City Council

Brad Rice

Elaine Dolan

Dolan:  She said friends and citizens in Colleyville asked her to run that are familiar with her sincerity and integrity.  Dolan said the "self-interest attitude" needed to be replaced with positive leadership and a renewed image. She said that 35% of the TIF money has been committed to 24 acres in the Village at Colleyville, out of the over 600 acres in the district.  Concerning the "Shop Colleyville" effort, she said it would be a great concept, but there is no place to shop for common everyday items in the city. Dolan pointed out that while Rice touts his success he ignores the actual financial condition of the city.  "He has had 2 years of following the lead of the majority of the current council."  Concerning the claim of the city financial health by touting the bond rating, Dolan said that "they have added millions of dollars to the debt load and the previous rating was based on the ability to raise taxes to pay for the debt."  She said Rice has not hesitated to vote for Certificate of Obligations committing citizens to millions in debt without the citizens having any voice in the decision.  Concerning parks, Dolan said that one of the problems is that the "elite" teams take up parks that taxpayers pay for but their children are knocked off the fields, in reference to Rice's involvement with the American Eagle Select Soccer Club.

*Concerning the 35% commitment of TIF funds to the singular project called the Village at Colleyville.  According to information provided by the Colleyville City Manager to LNO in March 2003, entitled "Colleyville TIF Plan - dated 01/23/02, the total amount, when including city hall monies, engineering, library, etc., committed within the project is $12,422,140 of $35,328,690 or 35.2% of the total TIF amount.  However, when reducing the TIF by the amount promised to be paid to GCISD from TIF funds of $7,938,690 the result shows the Village at Colleyville receiving 45.4% of the total TIF funds available to the city for projects.

Place 4 Candidates Colleyville City Council

Davis: In the matter of parks he pointed out that our citizens pay for parks but many times have no access because the city has relinquished control to the sports associations.  He said that we need to open up a better dialogue with the school district to see how facilities can be shared.  He pointed out that experience is needed on the city council to help resolve issues.  Davis said he has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, city boards, the GCISD citizen advisory committee and lived in Colleyville 28 years before his opponent.  He says his involvement with entities like the airport board has provided him the knowledge of how government works.  Finally, he said about his opponent, "He has decided to align himself with the group that wants more of the same and I feel the citizens want and deserve a positive approach and real solutions."

Dallas Morning News Reporter
 Kathy Goolsby & Joe Hocutt

Tom Cannon in suit coat and
 Elaine Dolan in background with citizens