Frisco City Council Candidate

Phil Ramirez

Candidate for:

City Council, Place 3

Occupation:

Director of Operations for an Event Technology Company

Contact information:

www.voteramirez.wordpress.com  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Why are you running for office?

I have two reasons.  The first is personal.  For many years I've always had opinions about local issues.  Even growing up in Beaumont, TX I had these ideas and concerns about the community, but I never addressed them.  I never did anything about it.  For 2009, I decided to do something about it.  Instead of just talking the talk....I am now going to walk the walk.  That is one reason why am running.
 
The second is I can think of nothing more honorable than serving the community in which my family lives.  My family growing up with your family, our children growing up with your children.
 
I was here when the biggest talk of the town was the new Brookshire Brothers grocery store opening.  I've seen how much this community has grown, what it all has been through, and I can see what excitement lies ahead.  I want to do my part.

What is the key issue you are campaigning on?

The economy.

What experience do you offer for this position?

For the past several years I've been involved in business management.  It has been my responsibility to manage and develop people, be fiscally responsible, and service internal and external clients.
 
Recently I was put in charge of a task to turn around a multi-million dollar business that was severely underperforming in 2007 from all angles (Profit/Loss, internal and external customer service).  Since I was assigned this project, everything was completely turned around -  despite the downward trend of the economy in the second half of 2008.  We were so successful our business was recognized as 1 of only 16 properties out of 700+ in the company for outstanding financial results.
 
Before I got into business, I taught math for 5 years at the high school and college levels.  That experience developed me as a motivator, afterall we all know how hard it is to get high school students motivated for Algebra II and the like.

What is in your platform that makes you different from your opponents?

I think what might make me different is the concern I would have about sustaining businesses.  We have to be careful and not make the same mistakes in the same manner as Starbuck's or Blockbusters' of the world.

"For Lease" signs in retail shops is bad business and bad for the business next door.  Let's do what we can to keep everybody doing business in the community stay in business.

With the current economic situation - budgets are tight.  Are you more inclined to raise taxes or cut costs? 
And, where would you cut the costs as part of the solution?

I'm more into cutting costs.  I would have a simple plan.  Talk to each department of the city and look to see where costs can be cut.  Talk to the people that make the schedule and manage the people on a daily basis.  Let's start with that and go from there.  In most businesses, labor is the biggest cost and can be the easiest to control. 

Start with labor and go from there, keeping only what's necessary and efficient, without sacrificing service.

What do you feel needs to be changed in City Council?

I went to a "coffee with the Mayor" a few days ago.  He mentioned the upcoming City Council election and defined the council as members who "represent" the city.

I think this is the best argument for my stance.  I feel there needs to be proper represenation on the council for the city and I feel I can bring that representation from all facets of the meaning of the word.

What do you feel needs to be maintained?

The ease of accessibility of what happens at the meetings.  Through the website, every citizen with internet access can see the meetings, download documents, and see a calendar of meetings to come.

I think this is a step in the necessary direction with all the technology that exists, and one that needs to be maintained.

What do you think City Council could do to increase attendance at meetings?

I think a more proactive approach is needed.  Even though I think information, agendas and calendars are easily accessible for the public, they are very passive.
I feel we should stay with the times of twitter, texting and the like.  Imagine if we had a database of cell phones and simply sent a text to those who have signed up as a reminder of an upcoming meeting...a reminder that goes directly to your phone.
An Outlook invite on a calendar and the use of twitter are other options that the citizens of Frisco could use.
The resources are there, we just need to come up with the right one. 

What would you like your legacy to be and what do you want to be remembered for doing after you leave office?

A person who was sincere, gave it his all, and did his best to make the right decisions for the city is the legacy I want to leave.

List your awards/accomplishments

Family

Married high school sweetheart - Kim, 17 yrs
Two daughters - Zoe 10 yrs, Trinity 5 yrs
One dog   - Oscar, 6 month Chocolate Lab

Education

Russian Student Ambassador for People to People
Full Scholarship to OU for Mechanical Engineering
Dean's List at the University of North Texas several semesters
Graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in Mathematics from the University of North Texas
  
Professional
 
One of only ten people in the state to speak on Video Technology in the classroom at a statewide High School Teacher's Convention in 2002
Documentary on "North End Baptist Church - The First 70 years" placed 2nd at the Spindletop Film Festival
One of only sixteen properties nominated for "Outstanding Financial Results" for 2008, over 700 properties exist