Election
BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & SHANNON WEST
Buda City Council, District C
KEY: *Incumbent
San Marcos City Council, Place 1
If elected, how do you plan to address future growth? Guide sustainable and equitable growth through Vision SMTX, prioritizing in ll development over sprawl, housing a ordability, protecting neighborhoods, preserving natural resources, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace. Growth should strengthen community character and equity, not overwhelm it.
Why are you running for this o ce, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address? I’m running to build trust in city government and strengthen San Marcos’ future. My central issue is protecting our community from oods while creating local jobs, a ordable housing, and sustainable growth rooted in fairness, transparency, and respect for residents’ voices.
Je rey Morales Occupation & experience: State of Texas Employee; Two Buda City Boards, Food Bank board member, HOA president, 20 years military service www.je reymorales.info
Emily Jones Occupation & experience: Estimating Director; 5 years Buda Planning & Zoning Commission: 3 years as Chair, 28 years construction industry www.emilyjonesforbuda.com
Kimberly Goodman Occupation & experience: Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Adjunct Professor; Twenty years Executive Leadership experience, on four Buda boards and commissions, teacher, volunteer, and mom. Facebook: Kimberly Elaine Goodman
Matthew Mendoza* Occupation & experience: Analytic Engineer; Councilmember Place One since 2022, Former P&Z Commissioner, SMHS Graduate, and Rio Vista Homeowner Facebook: Matthew Mendoza For San Marcos City Council Place 1 Chase Norris Occupation & experience: State Disaster Recovery & Mitigation Planner, Texas General Land O ce; Urban planner, environmental protection, union advocate, community leader www.chasenorris.org
To involve residents in decision-making, use public forums and workshops, implement digital platforms, establish diverse resident committees, explore participatory budgeting, foster an inclusive environment, community partnerships, accessible information, and de ne clear goals. Why are you running for this o ce, and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?
I adore Buda and am committed to giving back to our thriving community by using my extensive budgeting and construction experience to protect our hard-earned tax dollars while implementing valuable infrastructure and city projects in a timely manner; curating our growth to preserve the Buda we all love. In addition to continually increasing the open houses, polls, web-based communications, and encouraging the public to speak at city meetings, I have already started looking into a mobile app where residents and visitors can opt into various noti cations of events, services, meetings, and other city functions and communications.
I have dedicated my life to service for others and my community as a mom, teacher, nurse, and volunteer. Buda is at a critical point where we need a balanced approach that protects our small-town feel, properly manages growth, and supports local businesses.
Since being elected to City Council, and a member of the City’s Workforce Housing Committee, I’ve pushed for a ordable, diverse and compatible housing while promoting environmental protections that will bene t our river and our community. All our citizens, renters and homeowners alike, deserve safe and a ordable places to live.
As someone who grew up in San Marcos, I’ve seen rsthand the growth we’ve experienced over the past few decades. We have a responsibility to manage growth so that our residents bene t the most, not special interests. We need to locate development where it won’t harm our rivers and environment.
I am committed to representing the citizens of Buda and feel I am best quali ed and experienced to carry out the expectations of the citizens. I would like to ensure Buda is responsive to the needs of its citizens. I have concerns about Buda’s growing pains, project management, tra c. How do you plan to involve residents in the decision-making process?
An agenda of a few hundred pages is published 72 hours before the council meeting, on a Friday. Folks are busy working, raising a family—72 hours over a weekend isn’t enough time. We need to workshop big issues before taking action. I want to be the voice for my district.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
SAN MARCOS 510 Barnes Dr (512) 392-0366
CREEKSIDE TOWN CENTER 263 Creekside Crossing
(830) 608-1969 NEW BRAUNFELS 1671 IH-35 S (830) 629-0434
SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 S I-35 Frontage Rd (512) 280-7400
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