When I ran for City Council, I wanted to bring my experience as a business and community leader to local government and, most importantly, to listen to the people I was elected to represent.
Since taking office, I have worked to bring greater accountability, transparency and thoughtful decision-making to the way our city operates.
I believe effective local government requires asking questions, understanding the facts, listening to those closest to an issue, and making informed decisions with the long-term interests of Helotes in mind.
Investing in Our Employees and Public Safety
One of my first priorities as a Council Member was addressing the compensation of our city employees.
At the beginning of our first budget workshop in 2025, I raised concerns that many of our employees were undercompensated compared with employees performing similar work in similarly sized municipalities near Helotes — based on available salary survey data.
Rather than simply applying an across-the-board cost-of-living increase, I advocated for a more thoughtful approach based on available salary survey data. The Council ultimately approved each department receiving an increase based on how current salaries compared with those of employees in similar positions at similarly sized municipalities near Helotes.
While these increases represented an important step toward addressing longstanding compensation gaps, our employees remain undercompensated in some areas. I believe continuing to evaluate our salaries against comparable municipalities is important to attracting and retaining the talented people who provide essential services to our community.
I am proud that the Council took this important step, but I also recognize that there is more work to do.
This approach also led to something I believe was equally important: Council Members met individually with department heads to better understand their department’s staffing, equipment, training and other resource needs. The department heads I met with shared that they had not previously experienced this kind of direct conversation with the Council about their department’s needs. I believe those conversations gave Council Members a much better understanding of the resources our employees need to serve our community effectively. Understanding what our employees need to do their jobs well is essential to providing the level of service our residents expect.
Strengthening Economic Development Accountability
As a Council-appointed member of the Helotes Economic Development Corporation Board, I have worked to bring greater transparency, accountability and consistency to the City’s economic development efforts.
I recommended that the HEDC’s incentive programs be reviewed to ensure they aligned with the requirements governing economic development corporations and the City’s goals for economic development. As part of that work, I also drafted a performance agreement for a business that had been approved to receive economic development funds, helping establish clear expectations and accountability for the use of those public dollars.
I believe Helotes can be both business-friendly and a careful steward of taxpayer funds. Businesses should have confidence that the City and HEDC are committed to supporting economic growth, while residents should have confidence that economic development incentives are administered responsibly and transparently.
Making Strategic Investments in Helotes
During the 2026 budget cycle, I advocated for investments in long-needed capital needs identified by our city departments. Several of these items had been deferred in previous years but have become increasingly important, including generators for the Police and Fire Department buildings and street maintenance equipment for Public Works.
These are not simply new expenditures—they are investments in the equipment and infrastructure our employees need to provide essential services to our residents. I believe responsible budgeting means prioritizing necessary investments while remaining good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Bringing Greater Transparency to City Government
I believe residents should be able to see and hear their local government at work.
I supported moving our two budget workshops from the small training room at the Fire Station to the City Council Chambers, where our other Council meetings are held and recorded.
Moving the workshops to the Council Chambers provided residents with greater access to the budget process and created a more complete public record of the discussions that shape the City’s most important annual decisions.
Transparency isn’t simply about complying with requirements. It’s about giving residents the opportunity to understand how decisions are made.
Thoughtful Growth & Community Character
My involvement in local government began because I cared deeply about how Helotes grows and changes. That remains important to me today.
I believe Helotes can move forward without losing the qualities that make our community special. Responsible growth means considering more than an individual development or property. It means looking at the impact on traffic, infrastructure, public safety, municipal services, neighborhoods and the character of our community.
I support thoughtful development that fits within Helotes while recognizing that our community must continue to evolve in order to thrive.
Leadership That Listens
The common thread running through my work on the Council is simple: listen, ask questions, understand the facts, research, and make decisions based on what is best for Helotes.
Whether the issue is employee compensation, economic development, the City budget, public transparency or growth, I believe residents deserve leaders who are willing to do the work, engage with the people closest to an issue and explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
That is the kind of leadership I bring to City Council, and it is the kind of leadership I will continue to bring to serving Helotes.