The City of Southlake
With early voting one week away, Southlake City Council candidates laid out their cases for election during a virtual candidate forum on Monday, October 5.
After opening remarks, candidates Sabreena Hakemy, Kathy Talley, Victor Avila and Randy Williamson appealed to voters. One of the first topics the candidates touched upon was the racial unrest that has grown locally and nationally. Citing his experience working with law enforcement and Carroll ISD's District Diversity Council, Victor says the key to bringing the community together is through communication and transparency.
“I do recognize that we have issues,” Victor says. “As a Hispanic American, I know what discrimination and racism looks like. It doesn’t feel good. I don’t wish that upon anyone in any community. I want to be able to unite the city together, come together and celebrate the diversity we have in our beautiful city.”
Another topic the candidates touched upon was economic recovery. After COVID-19 negatively impacted businesses in the spring, the city reported a 7% sales tax decrease and a 62% hotel occupancy decrease from last year, according to MySouthlakeNews.com. Sabreena says she knows a thing or two about keeping up with shifting markets as an entrepreneur and businesswoman.
“I know the risks involved in development and commercial spaces,” Sabreena says. “I understand how we’re supposed to transition our businesses, pre-COVID and during COVID. I understand the changing trends. I know how to work with our business owners to help them overcome those challenges to bring in the revenue and the foot traffic.”
When it comes to lowering taxes, Randy cited his previous experience working on the city council as a member and mayor pro tem when they lowered the tax rate six years in a row. He says that councilmembers could also do something about property tax appraisals.
“I've heard folks say we can’t do anything about appraisals,” Randy says. “Well, that’s not true. We can do things about appraised values, that's why we work with our state representatives. That's why we work with our state senators, our county commissioners to ensure they hear the voice of you, the residents, through us, the city councilmembers.”
And when it comes to city politics, Kathy has a simple philosophy when it comes to local governing — less is more.
“I’m for less government, but I’m for involved government,” Kathy says. “I think our residents trust in our ability to lead and carry the city forward. We should do that with every amount of respect that we can, but I do believe that we don’t want to over-legislate, over-create laws where our residents don’t need them.”
Kathy and Sabreena will be under consideration for the place 1 seat, while Randy and Victor will be under consideration for place 6. Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 13 at Southlake Town Hall. A full recording of the virtual candidate forum can be viewed on the city’s website at CityOfSouthlake.com.