The Texan (Bellaire, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 29, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 26, 1986 Page: 4 of 20
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4
THE TEXAN NEWSPAPER
MARCH 26. 1986
Candidates
speak
By Nick Herrera
All 13 Bellaire City
Council candidates favor
the redevelopment of
downtown Bellaire.
candidates agree on how
it should be done.
This is just one con-
clusion drawn from
responses to a recent
questionnaire supplied
by The Texan News-
paper to candidates of
the April 5 Bellaire city
election.
Each candidate
received the same
questions and the same
amount of space to
reply. All responses
appear unedited.
The candidates were
asked to respond to the
following two questions:
--Should the city
continue efforts to
redevelop downtown
Bellaire or should the
Tax Increment Finan-
cing District be
abandoned? Why?
-List three things (in
order of importance)
that you would work to
accomplish next lei in, if
elected. Explain briefly.
Topping the lists of
things the candidates
would work to
accomplish, if elected,
included: downtown
redevelopment, street
construction and repair,
senior citizen represen-
tation, conservative
fiscal policies,
improving city services
and facilities, pre-
serving the city’s AA
credit rating, starting a
police/community safe-
ty program, forming a
long-range compre-
hensive plan for down-
town, continuation of
the city’s five-year plan,
and a push for resi-
dential revitalization.
Only Bellaire Mayor
Sam McKinney, who
has filed for reelection,
is running unopposed in
the upcoming election.
Incumbent Norman
Gauerke is the only
other councilman run-
ning for reelection.
Councilmen Martha
Lane, Jay Webster Jr.,
Keith Wohlford and
Barbara Young are not
eligible to run for
reelection this year as
they have served two
consecutive two-year
terms-the legal limit set
by Bellaire's city
charter.
Position 6 councilman
Bob Kendrick has
chosen to not run tor.
reelection to devote
more time to other
volunteer activities, he
said.
Absentee voting has
begun and will continue
through April 1.
The candidates who
get a majority of the
votes cast for the
positions they are
seeking will win the
jobs.
New councilmen will
take office May 1 and
serve until May 1, 1988.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE
Sam McKinney, 62
of 4807 Maple St.,
manager of industrial
power generation sales
in the Houston area for
General Electric Co.
McKinney has held
various elected and
appointed Bellaire city
jobs since the late 1950s.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing District Sam McKinney
be abandoned? Why?
The question suggests a linkage which is not there.
We have a flattening tax base which must be
addressed. The revitalization of downtown offers
one solution. TIF is merely a tool that may help to
accomplish this. We have already paid for the
formation of TIF and it is now self-sustaining. If
TIF is abandoned now, we will lose any benefit that
we may get from it in the future.
List three things |in order of importance] that you
would work to accomplish next term, if elected.
Explain briefly.
1) I want to continue the plans already in place and
underway to improve our streets, sewers and water
systems. Our infrastructure must never be allowed
to deteriorate to the level it did in the past.
2) Bellaire has several long-range problems that
we need to continue work on. Flattening tax base is
one. Subsidence and future water supply is
another. Garbage disposal is still another.
3) Priorities for the city must be reassessed and
this is one of the first issues the new Council will
face. These priorities become long range plans
which must be reviewed and projected each year.
POSIUDN 1 CANDIDATE
Carolyn Schum, 50,
of 4912 Holly, a medical
editor for Baylor College
of Medicine, who
previously served on the
Planning and Zoning
Commission and was
Mayor Pro Tcm on the
City Council from 1977
to 1978.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing DIs- Carolyn Schum
trict be abandoned?
Why?
Improvement of downtown is a popular goal, and
efforts in that direction should continue. However,
we need consensus on the definition of “impro-
vement” and that consensus should be translated
to especific, codified Master Plan.
List three things [In order of importance] that you
would work to accomplish next term, if elected.
Explain briefly .
1) Improvement downtown depends on stability.
There, as in the neighborhoods, it will be linked
with strong zoning rather than eager but vague
invitations to developers. I would work for a
long-range Comprehensive Plan for downtown.
2) A city-financed telephone survey (results as yet
not released) asked which was more acceptable:
increased taxes or decreased services. I would
work toward an alternative: increased efficiency
and self sufficiency (e.g. fewer outside studies).
3) Informed involvement of Bellaire's taxpayers is
one of my goals. 1 would like to see more citizen
committees, more cable TV coverage, more
information on Council agendas, and two readings
of ordinances before they are voted on.
POSITION 1 CANDIDATE
Tom Phillips Jr., 41
of497i Wiiiow St., an
architect with the
Bellaire firm of
Hightower - Alexander
and vice chairman of the
Planning and Zoning
Commission.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing Dis-
trict be abandoned?
Why?
The city should continue
to redevelop downtown Bellaire because without
tile expanded tax base of both advaloietll and sales
taxes, either property taxes will have to be raised,
or services cut, and 1 don't favor either. The TIF- is
only one mechanism to promote/revitilize down-
town. Whether it works or not remains to be seen,
but if it is cancelled then the city will not be
reimbursed for the money used to form the district,
and that is the only guaranteed item associated
with TIF.
List three things |in order of importance! that you
would work to accomplish next term, if elected.
Explain briefly.
1) Continue to aggressively follow the street
'OtiStructaOn ^rcpv*,r nr(rm fi|fp r^it'v
so a majority of citizens benefit in the spending of
their tax dollars.
2) Begin negotiations and long range planning for
the eventual conversion from well water to surface
water. Subsidence is an issue and is reflected in
our increased storm drainage problems. Sub-
sidence abatement should remain a top priority.
3) Obtain a new “Tax Paying” owner for the
Prudential Building--thc potential loss of our
second largest single tax payer would be
devastating. I am in favor of any “enticement”
government can do to lure a new owner to our city.
POSITION 2 CANDIDATE
Calving C. (Pete)
Gohlke Jr., 63, of 4615
Maple St., retired
manager of sales and
service for Armco’s
National Supply
Division, and former
Bellaire City Council
member for two terms
from 1968 to 1972.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the tax Incre-
ment Financing District
be abandoned? WTiy?
Definitely YES, the city should continue efforts to
redevelop downtown. The sales tax provides a very
substantial contribution to the budget. We need to
keep this income flowing. Otherwise, we will see
our taxes escalate. The TIF District is a vehicle
which offers at least a possibility of something
good for Bellaire. The money has been spent. Let’s
keep it alive.
List three things [in order of importance! Ihat you
would work to accomplish next term, if elected.
Explain briefly.
1) To serve the city responsibly, with dedication
and dignity, and do all 1 can to preserve the AA city
credit rating.
2) To maintain all city services at the highest and
best level we can afford.
3) To keep improvements to streets, water, and
waste water moving as briskly as possible.
POSITION 2 CANDIDATE
Barbara Hopkins,
51, of 5121 Pine St., a
housewife and former
Planning and Zoning
Commission member.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing Dis-
trict be abandoned?
Why?
I am for encouraging
revitalization of down-
town Bellaire by private Barbara Hopkins
enterprise. TIF has
spent $409,272 of our taxes and has produced no
significant tax revenue. There are higher priorities
tor our tax money.
List three things I in order of lmnnrtanra-1 11.
would work to accomplish next term. If elected.
Explain briefly .
1) Responsible spending of tax dollars. My highest
priority is to maintain and improve the services
and public facilities available to our citizens.
2) City Council should be responsibe to the
citizens. I will provide citizens with information
about issues before the council, listen to their
comments, and respond to the will of the majority.
3) Encourage citizen involvement. As a board
member of Friends of Bellaire Parks I am aware of
how volunteers, who donate their time and
expertise, can improve the quality of life for all
citizens.
POSITION 3 CANDIDATE
Will Marasek, 33, of
4333 Betty St., assistant
vice president with
University Savings
Association.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing Dis-
trict be abandoned'’
Why?
Redevelopment should
continue so to enhance
the focal point of our
city. At the same time
the people should be allowed to have input so that
it will be done according to their wishes.
List three things (in order of importance] that you
would work to accomplish next term, if elected.
Explain briefly.
1) 1 will work for the removal of old residential that
is beyond repair to make room for new and more
elegant single family housing which our city should
have.
2) I believe there is a need for close scrutiny of
spending by our city government so that we may
be assured that our tax dollars are being stretched
to their maximum capabilities.
3) At no expense to our existing city parks and our
crumbling sewer system, we have got to improve
city streets before we all end up in need of front
end alignments for our automobiles.
POSITION 3 CANDIDATE
Christina Stone, 37, of
4813 Holt St., co-owner
of the Stone and Stone
law firm.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing Dis-
trict be abandoned?
Why?
I believe Bellaire must
continue downtown
redevelopment efforts in
order to improve the
quality of our downtown
and to increase our tax base through the increased
property taxes and sales taxes that would result
from downtown redevelopment. The TIF district
may continue to be of use to Bellaire, as it brings in
tax increments from HISD and Harris County. If
the TIF District proves to be of no use in the future,
it should be abandoned.
List three things | in order of importance] that you
would work to accomplish next term, If elected.
Explain briefly.
1) Downtown redevelopment. The demographics of
our downtown area are excellent for retail and
commercial development. I believe that we can
attract an interested developer or developers in the
near future. In order to do this, we need to
maintain political stability. If we do not revitalize
our downtown, our residential taxes will increase.
2) Better use of recreational and park facilities.
Russ Pitman Park has a building (the former
Hcnshaw home) that should be used for classes
senior citizen activities, and other city-sponsored
activities. I would also like to see one of the
sw'imming pools enclosed, or topped with a
removable “bubble,” so the pool could be used
year round.
3) Continuation of our capital improvement plan
and maintenance of our excellent city services.
Continued care taken to maintain high quality
residential areas. I will strive to keep our
residential taxes as low as possible.
POSITION 4 CANDIDATE
Norman Gauerke,
?8, of 4911 Bellaire
Blvd., retired owner of
GBS Insurance Agency
and incumbent Position
4 city councilman.
Should the city continue
efforts to redevelop
downtown Bellaire or
should the Tax Incre-
ment Financing Dis-
trict be abandoned?
Why?
The city should continue
every effort to stimulate
Calvin C. (Pete]
Gohlke Jr.
Will Marasek
Christina Stone
fJVlQv -r-
Norman Gauerke
Continued on Page 5
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Herrera, Nick. The Texan (Bellaire, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 29, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 26, 1986, newspaper, March 26, 1986; Bellaire, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth648207/m1/4/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bellaire Friends Library & Historical Society.