A list of questions was recently sent to the candidates for the District 2 City Council seat. The answers were copied and pasted just as they were submitted.
Candidate: Kris Beard
Endorsed by:
- Garland Police Association
- Garland Firefighters Association
- MetroTex Realtors Association
- How long have you lived in Garland?
I have lived in Garland for 34 years, moving into my current home on June 1, 1990.
- Why do you want to serve on City Council?
I love my home, my neighborhood, and my city. I have been serving my community in many different capacities for as long as I’ve lived in Garland. I feel it is time to serve the city in a greater capacity and help continue to improve the quality of life for all who call Garland home.
- Please summarize your experience/background/knowledge that you feel makes you the right choice for the Council seat.
I have a long history of service in Garland and the surrounding area. A partial list of my qualifications and service history is listed below:
- I am an active member of my neighborhood association and served as president of Chandler Heights Neighborhood Association (CHNA) from 2012-2024;
- I am a graduate of the Garland Citizen Police Academy and have been volunteering with the Garland Police Department since 2013, with over 1,000 documented volunteer hours serving as the civilian fingerprint technician;
- I volunteered with the Garland Marshals Office from 2017-2019 making warrant notifications;
- I am a graduate of the Garland Citizen Firefighters Academy, and have been volunteering with the Garland Fire Department since 2016. I am a past Board Member of the Citizens Firefighters Club of Garland (CFCG) and have been a member of the CFCG Rehab Team since 2017;
- I am a past member of the Garland’s Citizens Emergency Response Team, Team 1 (CERT) serving from 2008 until the Team was disbanded by the city;
- I volunteered with the American Red Cross as a CPR/First Aid instructor for over 20 years, and have been certified in CPR/First Aid for over 50 years;
- I have organized food drives for Good Samaritan, volunteered feeding those in need at The Salvation Army and GLOWS, set up a neighborhood food pantry, and volunteered my time as “Mrs. Claus” (with my husband, Bobby, as Santa) at area daycares, nursing homes and local events;
- I am a member of Leadership Garland;
- I have a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Tyler, and have worked as a psychologist at Terrell State Hospital;
- I am certified in Deaf-Blind Rehabilitation, from the University of Illinois in conjunction with the Helen Keller National Center, and have worked as a Case Manager for those with special needs;
- I am bilingual, being proficient in conversational America Sign Language (ASL); and
- I have a working knowledge of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Life Safety Code.
- What personal characteristics do you possess that qualify you for the position?
I am passionate about Garland. I am able to look at benefits v. risks and pros v. cons when making decisions. I will fight for what I feel is right, and concede when I’m wrong.
- Do you believe that more transparency is needed in city government? Or do you feel that there is already an adequate amount of transparency? Why?
I believe the current Garland city government does an excellent job in being transparent with the citizens. Transparency is like ethics, it is impossible to be too transparent, there is always room for improvement.
- How will you involve your constituents in your decision-making?
I will involve my constituents in decision making by actively solicitating their input. I will use social media, phone calls, texts, email, Town Hall Meetings, and/or mailings to inform constituents of issues being addressed by Council, and accept input/feedback by any means it is provided. The decision is not mine to make. The decision is for the citizens of Garland to make. My job will be to vote based on their decision.
And, I will remember it takes 5 Council members to make the final decision on City Council. This requires speaking up for my district, as well as listening to others as they present feedback from their districts during Council Work Sessions/Executive Sessions/and Council Meetings.
- What are some of the things in District 2 that need to be improved/changed? And, how will you go about getting those improvements made?
The number one item the residents in District 2 have voiced to me is street/sidewalk repairs. Over the past 5 years over 80 streets in District 2 have been replaced/repaved/or had complete overlays, but this is an ongoing issue.
I will advocate for District 2 with the City Manager’s office and the street department, and will continue to report pot holes and severe street/sidewalk damage through e-assist.
After streets, crime has been an issue reported as problematic by residents, especially celebratory gun fire. Garland has a relatively low crime rate compared to the surrounding cities and other cities the same size, but GPD only makes the local news when there is a major crime. This makes the perception of crime higher than it is. GPD has a task force in place during major holidays to address celebratory gun fire. They offer “Shot Spotter” classes for the public on how to report gun fire. I have taken this class, and will continue to report gun fire, as well as support GPD in any way I am able.
Green space development has been another issue brought up by residents. Currently in District 2, the Garland Office of Neighborhood Vitaliy’s “Where the Heart Is Program” (WTHI) is working with residents in the Quail Creek area of east Garland to possibly develop the green space that divides the neighborhood along the creek. I have attended 2 of the 3 public meetings on this project and will continue to work with the neighborhood and city regarding this project.
Another area I feel needs to be addressed in District 2 is the development of the 6 unused/under used city owned properties in the Historic Downtown District. Economic development in this area is necessary to keep downtown Garland vibrant, and to increase the city’s tax base. This will require an open mind to potential and possibilities presented by business owners and developers.
- What sets you apart from your opponent?
The things that set me apart from my opponent are:
- My track record of service in Garland; AND
- I am dedicated full-time to this position and the people I will serve.