The District 4 City Council race is between candidate B.J. Williams and incumbent Jim Bookhout. Questions and answers are below:
B.J. Williams, Candidate, District 4
Why do you want to serve on the Garland City Council?
- To lift the quality of health, safety and welfare of the people of Garland in the midst of COVID19 pandemic, leaving no stones unturned to protect us.
- I believe residents of Garland (243,000 strong), desire and deserve a full-service medical facility.
- To protect “Home Rule” charter.
- To create more opportunities for young people/millennials to serve on city boards and commission.
- To help our city continue to strengthen and expand our positive climate and culture of fair and equitable social, criminal and economic justice.
What sets you apart from your opponent?
- My track record of being accessible to constituents and building consensus to get things done.
- Prior record of successes as a community and public servant (I-635 project, NW Highway, S. Garland parks cleanup and beautification program, DART infrastructure upgrades-customer shelters/coverings, benches, lighting, etc.).
- My record shows that I am totally committed to fighting to protect Garland’s “Home Rule Charter” from overreach by higher governmental authorities. Our “Home Rule” manifests the voices and will of Garland residents for self-governance. My opponent actively worked with members of the Texas legislature in a partisan statewide initiative that eliminated the “Safelight Program. The purpose and goal this program was to provide another tool for law enforcement/public safety to protect the health and safety of motorists in our City. This public safety program was overwhelmingly endorsed and supported by the law enforcement and public safety community across Texas. Note: The elimination of this program has taken away this public safety tool as well significantly impacted the City’s 2020-2021 Operating Budget. NOTE: During my previous tenure (6 years) on Council, I did not receive a single complaint or inquiry from Garland residents or visitors about the “Safelight Program”.
- Despite the advice/recommendations of medical and health experts, my opponent voted “no” on a proposed city ordinance requiring the public to wear masks when entering city-owned facilities to protect city staff and minimize the spread of COVID19 in our city. I would have voted “yes” in support of this ordinance.
What changes/improvements are most needed in your district? What will you do to make those happen?
- Expand focus on code education and property maintenance. Method: Develop and distribute “Welcome to S. Garland Information Packet” to residents via direct mail, print and social media. Include information code and property maintenance standards. Conduct education/information town halls with HOAs and NAs. Spotlight a “Business of the Quarter”
- Continue infrastructure improvements/upgrades (streets and parks). Continue to implement 2019 Bond Program.
- Increase economic support for small businesses. Method: Spotlight a “Business of the Month”. Develop/distribute a directory of S. Garland Businesses.
- Increase availability and visibility of GPD neighborhood policing. Methods: Police sub-station, bike patrols, Neighborhood Night Outs.
What changes/improvements are most needed in the city? What will you do to help make those happen?
- Full-service medical facility. Method: Establish a “Blue Ribbon” panel comprised of representatives from the medical /health community, businesses, financial industry, real estate, residents, chamber, education and city staff, state/federal officials, to assess the feasibility and make strategy recommendations to Council.
- Neighborhood revitalization.
- Strengthen the Office of Fair Housing.
- Upgrade the quality and economic diversity of our commercial business footprint along our city’s major entry corridors. Method: Continue to assess funding levels and support for the City’s Office of Economic Development. Review economic development incentives/tools in light of current economic conditions.
- Carefully assess the impact of planning and zoning strategies/decisions Catalyst Areas and Envision Garland.
- Create a more collaborative, long term strategy to address homelessness and lessen the burden on GPD. Establish a Task Force made up of residents, faith leaders/clergy, community non-profits leaders, law enforcement, educators, law enforcement and current or formerly homeless persons to identify root causes and develop a long-term strategy for reducing homelessness for Council consideration.
How will you involve your constituents more in helping to make decisions and bring about changes at the district and city level?
- Conduct frequent community/town hall meetings (virtual and in-person). Remain transparent, accessible and ask for residents’ thoughts/input.
- Appoint residents to city boards and commissions.
- Increase utilization of social media and the city’s infrastructure (library, park and rec. centers) to meeting agendas and minutes (council, city boards and commissions).
- When it is safe to do so, take in-person Council meetings to the residents – (i.e., rotate Council meetings around the Districts).
What are your suggestions for improving the decline of the many aging Garland neighborhoods?
- Increase funding of Neighborhood Vitality Program (subject to availability of funds).
- Improve code education and compliance.
- Research the availability of state and/or federal funds to help senior citizens in making needed home improvements.
- Work to attract developers willing to invest in neighborhood renewal projects that will enhance, not negatively impact the property values or displace homeowners.
What are your suggestions for improving Garland’s response/solution for the homeless population?
- Ease the current burden of managing and monitoring homelessness on GPD.
- Establish a “Blue Ribbon Homelessness Partnership Task Force”, to study, develop and make recommendations to Council, a long-term strategy for addressing our city’s homeless population. Representation should include faith leaders, community nonprofits, businesses, homeless and/or former homeless, GPD, city staff, others.
- Homelessness is a regional, not a confined Garland challenge. Developing effective, long term solutions will require focused dialogue, cooperation, partnerships and coordination among surrounding regional cities. This approach has produced positive outcomes in dealing other quality of life challenges such as COVID19 mitigation, disaster response, transportation, air/water quality, health care, etc.
Jim Bookhout, Incumbent, District 4
Why do you want to serve on the Garland City Council?
I saw South Garland deteriorating and going downhill. I have lived here 37 years and this is my home. I wanted to work to turn it around and make it better for my family and neighbors. I have always been active and involved in Community Service in the city and want to continue to do so. I served on the Building and Fire Codes Board and on the Board of Adjustment for 9 years before running for Council.
What sets you apart from your opponent?
I have been a Law Enforcement Officer for over 45 years and worked with numerous city staff throughout my career. My opponent called me and told me he wanted me to run for Council and replace him when he termed out. I was willing to serve so I did. I believe he has had his 6 years to make change and I would like to be allowed to do the same. I do not accept donations nor expend any funds to run. I run solely on my name, accomplishments, and word of mouth by my constituents. I am not your typical politician as I only want to serve.
What changes/improvements are most needed in your district? What will you do to make those happen?
Economic redevelopment is paramount. I have been working and will continue to work to bring needed developers and new business to the area. Further, we need to work to help bring housing levels and standards up. While on Council we have funded monies for this to help. I also have been working with Code Enforcement to gain resident and commercial compliance with code to increase the quality of life for our residents.
What changes/improvements are most needed in the city? What will you do to help make those happen?
We need to improve our housing and retail. I work with Economic Development and Developers to find companies interested in revitalizing Garland. We have a lot of aging properties that need to be redeveloped. One way is to use a positive development model that builds a new vision of community health and sustainability that benefits all residents. Community organizing that brings different groups to the same table to identify a shared interest and common struggle is key to ensuring development that empowers entire communities.
How will you involve your constituents more in helping to make decisions and bring about changes at the district and city level?
I only appoint residents of District 4 to Boards and Commissions and work with these residents to improve our city. Further, I attend neighborhood events and post my email and phone number on the city web site. I answer my phone personally and help those that I can and listen to their opinions and issues. I constantly am asking for my constituents’ opinions.
What are your suggestions for improving the decline of the many aging Garland neighborhoods?
This is an exceedingly difficult issue for cities like Garland. We must make every effort to attract residents who want to remodel / rebuild / maintain homes by providing reasonable cost of municipal services, insuring a high-quality education is available in our schools and keeping residents safe by having high quality responsive Police and Fire Departments. The city has to work with developers and offer attractive inducements to encourage them to want to built and redevelop in Garland.
What are your suggestions for improving Garland’s response/solution for the homeless population?
I worked with staff to create the homeless camp program. I was instrumental in getting a second officer assigned to work with the homeless issue. Our current program is phenomenally successful and copied by other cities. We must be careful to ensure that we do not pass ordinances that will cause us to violate anyone’s civil rights. The courts restrict us from doing a lot of things. I serve on the Public Safety Committee and know it is an exceedingly difficult issue and I will continue to work on the problem.