Our Great City

Jim Carson for Keller City Council, Place 4

Hello, my name is Jim Carson and I’m running for re-election to the Keller City Council.

I promise this letter won’t be the same old “Vote for me–I’m a swell guy” campaign literature that you’re used to. I promise not to put any flyers on your door, nor interrupt your dinner with recorded messages. I won’t even litter Keller’s beautiful Spring landscape with signs saying little more than my name.

If you don’t have time to read me right now, maybe you could put me on the fridge and read me later? I may not convince you to come out and vote for me, but I’m confident that I can at least disavow you of any notion that “all politicians are the same.”

Before I get around to asking for your vote, I need to persuade many of you to vote at all in a local election. In a typical November (state and federal) election, more than 50% of Keller voters show up at the polls. But in city elections, fewer than 20% vote. Why? I’m convinced it’s because 1) local election coverage isn’t on TV, 2) we don’t have those handy little R’s and D’s behind our names, and 3) voters aren’t typically aware how much local government decisions affect them.

On that third one, think of it this way: when the federal government wastes, er, spends a million dollars, it costs the typical Keller family of four a little over a penny. But when the city of Keller spends a million dollars, it costs that same family $105. And with our low turnouts, your vote carries that much more weight.

My guiding principles are limited and open government.

Tom Cawthra FOR Keller City Council Place 3 www.vote-tom.com

PROFILE

Tom Cawthra is Vice President, Mortgage at First Financial Bank of Keller, Southlake and Trophy Club. His priority is loyalty and respect for others and is known for out-of-the-box thinking and creative problem solving. Tom has managed marketing and communications plans for commercial business financing and developed respectable, long term relationships with residential mortgage clients in Tarrant County and across the nation. He has written, produced and directed award-winning corporate communications videos; and is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station. In a slowing economy, classic communication and marketing experience like this is critical for a growing city like Keller trying to promote all it has to offer.

In 2006, Tom was appointed to the City of Keller Economic Development Board and currently serves as the Board’s Vice Chairman. As an active community partner, he was co-chairman for the Kevin Mench Celebrity Golf Classic at Sky Creek Ranch. The event raised record-setting contributions for the Community Storehouse and supported Keller and local area families in crisis.

I am Mark Harness and I am asking you to re-elect me to the Keller City Council- Place 2.

I live in Keller with my wife and two children, Mary and Noah. I have been a Keller resident since 1989.

I have seen many changes in Keller, not the least of which is rapid growth that has strained our infrastructure. Keller is a beautiful city that enjoys a relatively low property tax rate compared to other cities in Tarrant county. We have a fantastic parks and trail system. We have been named one of the top 50 small towns in the United States, and that is made possible because we have exceptional citizens.

We have many things to be proud of in Keller and many things to look forward to. Over the past two years we have made great strides in shaping Keller into one of the premier cities in Northeast Tarrant county. We did that by refocusing the city’s priorities on the basic needs of our citizens.

This council recently hired an outstanding City Manager who is doing a remarkable job, as is our city staff. If re-elected I will continue to move Keller forward with open, honest, and responsive government.

One major fact we must address is our limited available land for future development. In the past, businesses bypassed us in favor of Southlake, Watauga, Roanoke and the I35 Corridor. I have been working hard to attract quality businesses to Keller. I attended the most recent ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) convention with our staff. We stressed the advantages of Keller to such businesses as Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Panera Bread, Target and JC Penney. In response to the mayor and council’s urging, our new City Manager has hired and Assistant City Manager that is dedicated to economic development.

Rocky Top Therapy Center

2008 Golf Invitational
Sky Creek Ranch

Registration - 11:00am
Texas Scramble - 12:30pm
Awards Dinner & Auction - 5:30pm

All Players will receive: Players Gift, Team Photo, Lunch/Awards Dinner and On-Course Beverages.

Deadline for Registration: May 9th

For more information, call Rocky Top at 817-379-5717