Candidate Name: Chad Patton, Southlake City Council Place 3
Occupation: I manage a Private Financial Services office here in Southlake. My wife and I have owned and operated a small business for almost 10 years, and I have been passionately working on the restoration of the iconic and historic Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, TX.
How long have you lived in Southlake? What originally brought you to town?
"After multiple corporate relocations and career advancements, I changed careers and moved to Southlake 14 years ago. We chose Southlake for the same reasons many do: the schools, the culture, the location."
What inspired you to run for this position?
"I had a desire to serve our community as a way of volunteering and with an interest in becoming more knowledgeable about how Southlake evolved into such a special community. Throughout my professional and volunteer career, I have always believed in leading with a servant’s heart. My career mandates integrity, honesty and trust. My volunteer services require the same. Leading with the desire to humbly serve requires me to be a worthy listener. As your Place 3 City Councilman, it is my intent to continue the great works of councils past and to have an eye towards how the future is evolving and changing. I look forward to serving our community another three years."
What in your background prepared you for this responsibility?
"Experience:
8 consecutive years of appointed and elected service to Southlake 2011-current
2 years Zoning Board of Adjustments
3 years Vice-Chair, Parks Board
3 years City Council Place 3- currently serving
2030 Land Use Plan Committee- Open Space/Parks
2035 Land Use Plan Committee- Corridor -
3 years Corridor Planning Committee- currently serving
3 years TIRZ Board- currently serving
City accomplishments while serving:
Residential Property Tax Relief-Maximized Homestead Exemption to State Cap of 20%
Lowered city debt balance every year I’ve served on council
Maintained AAA Bond Rating
Reduction in the tax rate for the first time in 20+ years
Increased Officer/Fire/EMS pay
Welcomed TD Ameritrade, second largest employer
North Park Grand OpeningBicentennial Park Renovation
Miracle League Field Grand Opening
Tennis Center Renovation
The Marq Grand Opening
Champions Club Grand Opening"
What do you hope to bring to this role?
"My vision for Southlake remains bright! We are fortunate to live in a community that is nationally recognized. Southlake is able to offer so much to our citizens. Whether it’s our award-winning Town Square and all it has to offer from shopping to dining to residential living or our award-winning Parks and open space. We have something for everyone. Carroll Independent School District is consistently ranked Nationally for its academics and athletics. Our beautiful neighborhoods and proximity to DFW airport, Dallas and Ft. Worth make us a desirable place to call home."
What makes you different from other candidates?
"I have humbly served the citizens of Southlake for over eight consecutive years as both an appointed and elected official. I have had the pleasure of holding a seat at the table for both of our 2030 and 2035 land use plans. I currently sit on our Corridor Planning Committee which allows me to work closely with applicants wanting to develop along our most active corridors. My financial background and economic develop experience provides a critical skill set to help our ability to attract the right type of business partners to our community. My multiple years of continued service and experience gives me insight and a historical perspective that my opponent simply doesn’t have. My experience on various city boards and commission provides a valuable set of skills that afford me a distinct and relevant value that my opponent does not bring to this election."
What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected into your desired position?
"Protection of our remaining development: Working diligently on our 2030 and our 2035 Land Use plans has afforded me an opportunity to see what land remains to be developed in Southlake. With a current population nearing 30,000 and Southlake being fully built out at 34,000 we need to be very sensitive to the remaining residential development. I also serve on the Corridor Planning Committee, which allows me the opportunity to interact with developers who have an eye on the commercial land still available to build out along our major corridors (114, 1709, 1938 etc).Infrastructure improvements: Roads and traffic, stormwater and drinking water are essential to keep our residents and visitors safe. We have a multi-year 55MM commitment to improving stormwater drainage throughout the city. This vision will include the conversion of traditional detention areas into future open space areas that can be used casually when dry. I’m excited about this vision and we are just underway with an initial consultation to see how we can move this forward over time. We are improving roadways constantly. Only 50% of our residents are satisfied with our current mobility and traffic congestion. We are adding roundabouts and we engaged in over 5.8MM in roadway improvements in 2018. We are working closely with NTCOG and TXDOT to incorporate smart lights throughout our major intersections. We have made significant capital commitments to infrastructure improvements and monitors to ensure our drinking water remains safe. Targeted Tax Relief: I’m proud to have voted every year to increase the residential tax relief through the use of Homestead exemptions. We implemented the 20% exemption cap last year. I believe we will be able to maintain that exemption going forward and we will now be looking at ways to continue to reduce the tax burden to our residents and business owners."
What else do you want people to know about you?
"After a 14-year career in the biotechnology industry with increasing corporate responsibilities, I left my seat as a National Sales and Marketing Director. I made a career change so I could be a better husband and father, which afforded me an opportunity to be my daughter’s coach when she was young and my son’s coach now. Not having to travel and live on the road gives me the extra time with my family and extra time to serve. My service as a volunteer coach and a volunteer to our community has been fun and a great lesson for my children. My wife and I want our children to see and learn the value of giving back. To learn more about me, please go to www.chadpatton4southlake.com"