Frisco City Council Candidate
Rhonda Martin
Candidate for:
City Council Place 3
Occupation:
Commercial Real Estate Broker
Contact information
www.RhondaMartin2009.com
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Why are you running for office?
I have been heavily involved in volunteer work in my community for 9 years. Many elected officials both past and present saw that and felt I had the right qualifications, experience, and the right desire to run. For years they have seen me at City Council Meetings, Town Hall Meetings, City Board meetings, park dedications, facility openings and many more city wide events. I come not as an individual but as a consortium of relationships that have developed with hands on involvement that touch many aspects of this city. Volunteering became my passion and I am ready to take on the challenge of tackling the tough issues as a member of City Council.What is the key issue you are campaigning on?
We need to continue to expand and diversify the local tax base by bringing business relocations into our community. That includes corporate headquarters, technology, health, medical and life science related businesses. In addition, we need to help existing businesses expand. We need to create jobs at all levels. By doing that we can grow our tax base, increase tax revenue, and help keep our city and school taxes low.
What experience do you offer for this position?
As a business woman, in Commercial Real Estate, I know how to bring people to the table and solve problems. That is because I have worked every part of the problem solving process as a consensus builder and trusted advisor to many publicly traded companies. In addition, all my board positions have prepared me for being on City Council. They represent a wide variety of boards – including a social service board, an art board and a chamber of commerce board.
What is in your platform that makes you different from your opponents?
I am running on my own merits not against my opponents. I want people to be aware of my experience and what I can bring to the table. I do know that I will bring the perspective of a woman to the council. I would like to fill the shoes of the only woman currently on council, Joy West, whose term is about to expire. Women make up 50% of the population and it would be a shame if women did not have a voice on the City Council. I am well qualified for this position and I have a long history of service and leadership in Frisco at a level unmatched by any of my opponents.
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?
Given the current economic crisis I do not believe we should raise taxes – we should continue on the course. Our city planners anticipated this local economic slowdown and had requested each department to reduce the budget by 10%. Because Fiscal year ’09 is expected to show a 4% shortfall, each department is working to further evaluate and reduce expenses. Fortunately we are #17 in sales tax collection in the state over the last 12 month period. It is possible that we will have to dip in to some reserves which is understandable considering we are in the toughest economic climate we have had in decades. City staff is reviewing all of this and I would look at their recommendation.
What do you feel needs to be changed in City Council?
I would not change anything - but the voters will be changing the makeup of our council. Through the election if the voters want to choose someone who has deep roots in this community, someone that has been helping people throughout the community for years - then they will choose me. If they want someone that has worked with people from many of the City’s departments and services then they will chose me. I am the only candidate in the Place 3 race that has 15 years tenure of board experience and held years of chair experience. My experience is very well rounded as I have been out in the real world with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, Frisco Family Services and the Frisco Public Art Program.
What do you feel needs to be maintained?
In Frisco, it is a known fact that we have an outstanding city hall - all the way across the board - from the city manager and throughout the city staff. Running the city in the quality manner it has been operated is what needs to be maintained. We benefit by the quality of the employees that we have in this city. They are very experienced and the city needs to continue to take advantage of their expertise. Furthermore, the harmony and positive working relationship between the council and city staff needs to be maintained.
What do you think City Council could do to increase attendance at meetings?
Start with the Homeowners Association Board Members and active individuals in the city. Personally invite them and ask for a commitment from them to bring 2 other people. As we listen to the concerns of our citizens we need them to come forward at City Council and Town Hall Meetings and voice their opinions on issues or concerns. We all on the same page – we want a very special life here in Frisco.
What would you like your legacy to be and what do you want to be remembered for doing after you leave office?
After I have left office, I want my constituents to look back and say that during my term we helped the city sharpen its competitive edge and attract businesses. The city improved amenities and expanded the job training program so residents could be retrained for jobs in 2015. We got where we are today by being aggressive and getting the corporations, the retail and the sports venues that we knew would attract more people and thus more dollars to the City. We have to remain financially strong BUT we also have to make Frisco even more uniquely attractive to businesses in 2015.
List your awards/accomplishments
I have been involved in an array of organizations that make up the fabric of Frisco. I have been elected or appointed to numerous local Boards and have served more than 15 years in cumulative tenure. The Mayor and Council have appointed me to 2 positions in the community. I serve in a director position on the Frisco Public Art board, which I also Chair, Frisco Chamber of Commerce board, Frisco Family Services Center board, The Retail Property Fund board, and Stonebriar Country Club board. I serve on the Arts of Collin County Advisory Committee, the Frisco Community Emergency Response Team and was one of the founders of Mindbender Academy Science Camp supporting Frisco’s youth. In the last several years, I have completed Leadership Frisco Class XI, Frisco City Hall 101, Frisco Citizens Police Academy and Frisco Citizens Fire Academy. I have also volunteered for Frisco Parks and Recreation committees, my homeowners association, and several major charity galas benefiting local Frisco causes. Beyond Frisco my work extends to mission trips to Israel, Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Iran and China dating back to 2000.
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