Ahmad Greenhaw, hi and welcome to
this edition of State of the
Art Program, where we
discuss the political and economic
issues facing the city of Mesquite
in the days, the weeks, the months
and even the years to come.
This is the second in a series
of program covering
the mayor's race, candidates
that are on the ballot for the race
for mayor, for the city of Miski,
highest elected office in Mesquite,
very, very important position
for the history of Mesquite and
for all of us that are proud
to live in Mesquite and
hail from Mesquite.
And we have
candidate Cathy Ray with
us today.
Kathy is a candidate for the mayor's
position, having served on
the city council in
the past couple of years.
And Kathy, we're just certainly happy to
have you with us today and look forward
to visiting with you about what's on your
mind and about some of
the important issues facing Mesquite.
Welcome.
Well, thank you for having me today.
Would you like to tell us a little
bit about your background, what brings
you to this this spot in
Mesquite political history and a little
bit about what has prompted
you to be
a stateswoman and a politician
and come to the mayor's field?
Sure.
Well, about eight years ago, me
and my family, who my husband,
David, that I've been married to for 13
years, and we have two beautiful
children, a daughter in the fourth grade
and a son in the second grade.
We moved here because of the quality of
life that Mesquite had to offer
to make a better place for our children
to be raised.
And through my
just being a volunteer, basically
all my life being involved
within the communities that I've lived
in.
I started watching the politics
here in the city, became quite interested
and felt the desire three years ago to
run for city council, which I did,
was successful at that.
I ran again for reelection last year
and won again
and very proud to be on a city council.
You want to talk a little bit about some
of the major accomplishments that
you feel you've been a part of
in those two plus
plus years of of service to Mesquite?
Well, I guess it's a matter of what
you are defined as a major
accomplishment, because you see,
whenever a citizen comes to the city
council, that request, even
in something as simple as a stop sign
or as speed bumps in their alley,
to me that is a need of that neighborhood
or that citizen.
And when the council approves that,
that is a major accomplishment for that
neighborhood.
But of course, we've had many worthwhile
and major accomplishments in the past few
years, one being the purchase of the two
drug dogs. That has been a great asset
to our police department,
the health clinic, which the council
approved a little over a year and a half
ago, which the services
have been a tremendous help to
the citizens here in this city for the
children to get the immunizations that
they they do need.
And we have had
the youth service steering committee that
has just recently been formed
to look into areas how we can
help the youth of the community
and the program
that is law enforcement teaching
students that our police officers
are going into the schools and teaching
the fifth graders, helping them on their
self-esteem.
So there's been a lot of very major
and worthwhile programs within the city.
I'll play devil's advocate just a little
bit, there's a little controversy,
there seems to be
some statements that
are being made in the community to the
extent that the city might be coasting
a little bit, particularly
in industrial development,
maybe Pep Boys that was landed.
And remind me about how many years ago
might be the last real major
industrial accomplishment.
Has this city been coasting?
Have they not been as aggressive as they
need to be in landing some new new
industry? What what's your opinion
or how would you respond to
maybe a criticism like that,
valid or not so valid?
Well, I don't think it's any secret
that Texas has felt the pinch
in the economy, just as
most other areas have.
I don't think that you could say that
we have not been aggressive at all.
We have in the past couple of
years pulled in some
major industry with a Toyota
plant and with the boys.
And we have some others that are
seriously looking at Miski as we speak
today.
We offer a tax abatement
program, which I think is
an excellent way to attract business.
And we also work
in connection with the school district.
And not many cities offer a joint
school and city tax abatement
where as an industry that
would like to come into this city,
we give them a certain percentage
up to so many years off of
their taxes to help get them
here to the city.
But I think as the
turnaround of the economy that you're
going to start seeing more and more of
that. We still have a lot of excellent
land areas that
we can put industry into.
We have the highway
accessibility, the rail system.
We do have a Miski airport.
Everything is right here
in the city of Mesquite.
And I think it's just a matter of time.
The companies are looking and taking
this serious.
OK,
have you developed a vision
of mayor,
what you would like to accomplish
in this term, maybe
where you see Mesquite being in the year
2000?
Tell us a little bit about your vision of
the vision of Miski.
Well, of course, I think what anyone
thinks of the mayor, they they
see, you know, a very
high position.
The mayor, in my opinion,
is more of a PR public
relations type position and perhaps
a city council member would be.
But it's very important that the people
realize that we are an
elected body of seven people, which
consist of six council members and the
mayor, and that it
takes four votes to get anything
approved, whether that be the
mayor's vote or not.
But as far as PR, I think
the mayor has brought more to a little to
the forefront, in my opinion.
I would like to see the council
be made more accountable and brought out
to the forefront. Let the public realize
that there are six other elected
officials out there that are just as
important in the decision making
in the year 2000.
Again, I think that you're going to start
seeing us grow.
We have experienced growth over
the last few years,
and with the economy turnaround around,
you're going to continue to see that.
I would love to see a major hotel chain
and I think we're going to see that
and not in the too distant future
that the is on the right track.
And I think we're doing just fine.
It's been the mayoral
tradition
for the mayor to vote, I believe, on all
votes.
Would you plan to continue that or only
vote in the case of a tie?
What what is the proper
procedure now about which
the mayor votes?
So our mayor does all seven
council members does have the right to a
vote and sign again, it does
take a party of four
to make any decision
final. I would continue to do
that. I think it's important that
while, of course, I cannot always
make all the citizens happy with the way
I make my vote, nor
should I. But I think
it's important that the community see
where I stand on certain
issues and I will continue
to to place a vote on all items.
Good.
Do you have any.
Thoughts on how the advisory
commissions are working and
the proper relationship of those
commissions with the city council, I know
serving on the planning and zoning
commission, you have been courteous
enough to visit us a couple of
times and see see the workings
and attend some of our public hearings
and and so forth.
Any new commissions that need to
be formed?
Any any thoughts along
the Citizen Advisory Commission
line?
Well, I think the council's always opened
up to any recommendations where we see
fit as progress takes place if we
do need new boards or commissions.
I think the city has done an excellent
job in that we do have
many boards and commissions in
all areas.
And these are just people
in the community that volunteer their
time and they are appointed by
the council.
And we always appreciate that.
And what the main purpose
of the commissions are, is to do somewhat
of the legwork, are looking
into perhaps their
specialty or their area,
make recommendations to the council
where then the council has the final
decision whether or not we
will accept that as it is presented
or not.
But it's always good that you have
a different party other than your elected
officials that do look into the matter,
particularly the planning and zoning.
That's an area that's of great
importance.
Now there is a board, the Board of
Adjustment, that they give
variances into items such as perhaps
carports or gravel
driveways or you want to build a storage
building in your backyard.
That is the one board that they do not
come back to the council.
And we have a we
have the final decision on that.
We have given them the right
as to make that decision.
And that has worked very well for us.
Your position is kind of
unique, tell us a little bit about what
would happen to your council position
should you become mayor?
What would happen should
you not become mayor?
There's been some concern and comments
in the community on
on some of these seats since we're
involving some city council members.
Tell us a little bit about
that. And
if you want to shed any light also on
Mr. Culvers, of course, he's
got a got a candidate for that position.
But tell us a little bit about how your
your sport works.
OK, well, out of the six council
member spots, there are four
that are required to live within a
district and two are at
large. Now, a lot of people are
under the thought that we're single
member districts and that is simply not
true.
The whole city votes for
each and every place.
And in return, the city council
votes for anything
that comes up to the council, not just
for their one district.
My seat and everyone's
seat is a two year term.
My seat is not up for election
this year and I am what's called place
three.
I am allowed to retain that seat
until May 4th, the day of the election,
which in either way
the race turns out, whether I win or
if I lose, that seat would then
then be left up to be appointed,
which the majority of the city council
at that time has the right to place.
A person who lives within that district,
a place three to that seat
makes.
Of course, the council races
are always very, very important,
but it even attaches a bit more
importance to who's
elected. Because either way, then
I'm hearing you say the majority
of the council will have the opportunity
to appoint the person of their
choice to that that seat.
That's right.
Since this is not the election year.
Now, if I would have given up
this seat at the time I had filed
to run for mayor,
then that would have left that seat
vacant, which would
have been allowed to be on the ballot
for someone to run for a period of one
year. Then in return would have
to run another campaign the next
year, but it will be appointed
either way or the other.
We have
another very interesting
issue that is sure to
get voter voter response,
and that's the police fire referendum,
the collective bargaining issue.
Would you state your position on that
and any thoughts along those lines
for our viewers?
Well, the fact is, just as you stated,
aren't that it is
a referendum on the ballot.
It is in the hands of the
voting public to make that decision.
And whichever way the majority
of the public chooses to vote on that
issue is what I would take
and work with.
You're not taking a position then
in advance?
No, I am not.
It would not help
anyone because whichever
side does lose is
still a party, whether it be the citizens
are the fire and police that the mayor
needs to work with.
And I would like to be able to work with
either side.
OK,
do you have a particular
administrative type
technique? Do you consider yourself
to be more of more of a behind
the scenes person or
people person versus an administrative
person? Have you ever thought about
your leadership style and
how it might carry into the position of
of mayor?
Sure.
Well, I think anyone that
knows me can I can definitely say
that I'm very much a people person.
I'm out there in the public.
I'm very civically involved in.
Many organizations usually
hold office in most of those groups.
And I'm I'm just very
much in the public.
And so I'm very much a people person.
Again, still reminding the people that
you have a party of seven
up there on the city council and
that they need to be
brought more to the forefront, too.
But I did.
I'm very much a people person and not
behind the scenes.
Why don't you
take just a couple of minutes and
tell the viewers the most
overriding reason that they should
vote for you for mayor and
anything else you want to do is.
US for three, four or five minutes
and kind of sum up some of the things
that we've that we've talked about today.
Well, again, let me
keep stressing to you that the mayor's
position is simply
more PR, but that
my voting power is now more than what I
have right now, being a city council
member, and
that I am in the public.
I am out there with the people.
I think that's an asset for
me that I am so involved, not
in name only, but that
I play a very active
role in every organization that I'm
with.
And the only council member as far
as we are right now that has
two school age children.
So again,
that's just an asset that I'm seeing
people in areas that perhaps
maybe if you're a full time
employee and don't have the opportunity
to be out in the public, as much as I had
the opportunity to hear a
lot of different things.
And as I just said, I am not
employed.
I do have the time to give to this
office.
I think that's evident that
in the past three years, being
on the council, that I have made every
council meeting and that I'm
at the majority of the city
functions and I enjoy doing that
and just encourage it.
The people get out and vote on May four
for Cathy.
Ray, do you have
a telephone number where you can be
contacted if people wanted
to ask additional questions or get
involved in your in your campaign in
the later stages of the race here,
you can feel free to share that with with
our viewers and any mailing address
where you can be reached to.
OK?
Well, the telephone number that I can be
reached there is two seven nine
seven three seven one
and the address is twenty nine
forty one.
Branch Hello Circle
Mesquite seven five one five.
Oh, and I welcome any
input or concerns that the citizens
have.
I have always had an open door policy
in the past and will continue
to maintain an open door policy.
I feel like if you have a concern
and it's important enough to you,
then I need to hear that and try to help
you in any way I can.
You do return phone calls,
as do the rest of our city
officials, and you will continue to do
so. I have
always
said we have a little bit
more time, so we might just talk a little
bit about the the arts
in Mesquite, particularly since our
program is called State of
state of the art, not necessarily
for arts, a little bit more
for art like me.
But let's talk just
a little bit about about the state
of the arts community in Mesquite.
I know it hasn't been that long
since Mesquite started
its Arts Council in about 1982.
And since that time, we've
had a nationally known
folk festival, which has become a
nationally known music festival.
Since that time, we have
had a symphony
started, community
choir, a community band,
community theater, some
visual arts groups, some other
groups.
Tell us a little bit about
your thoughts on city support
of the arts and what you would do as
mayor to continue that
support if you feel that's valid.
Well, I think all of those areas
we have we have so many
areas here in the city that a lot of
people are still not aware of.
The biggest problem we have had, of
course, is a facility to house
these groups.
Recently, the city of Mesquite
did just purchase the building
next door to our new city hall.
They're fifteen fifteen Galloway.
It is the old Mesquite Physicians
Hospital. If people are familiar
with that and we were able to
purchase that building
for an excellent price.
And what we intend to do with that
until we have some
thoughts into the future as to what kind
of facility we need to permanently
house these arts groups is
to give them the office space there, the
storage space,
and possibly even turn that into
somewhat of the area where we could hold
the community theater, which I know right
now. They participate a lot
out of the existing YWCA
building.
And if no one has ever been there,
it is not a very large facility
and we do need the room.
The city is very supportive of arts
groups, it's a tremendous asset to this
city, and I encourage anyone,
if they have not ever had the opportunity
to hear a chorus or hear our symphony
orchestra to take the time, because
most of the time these concerts are free
and open to the public and
they're just really great.
I'm really proud to have that here.
Miski,
you'd mentioned a little bit about the
joint city school
tax abatement, and you may have
mentioned a little bit about the the
way in which the city and the
schools work together,
particularly in parks, construction
and so forth.
What do you see as the proper
relationship between the city and the
school and between
elected city officials and elected
school board members?
Any thoughts along those lines?
Well, it's always good that you have a
school in a city that can work
cooperatively together.
Just as you stated, people
are under the illusion sometimes that the
city dictates to the school district
as to what they will and can do.
And I think it's more of there's the
illusion that the schools dictating to
this.
I'm sure that there's that thought,
too.
I know I did get a lot of calls from
parents that are angry with a teacher,
are angry with their principal, and
that I have to inform them that
the school does have their own set of
elected officials, that
they had their own budget, their own
administration.
And yes, while we do work cooperatively
with them, such as on the agreement of
the tax abatement for the industry,
we have the agreement with them there.
Any time an elementary school site is
built by the school district, the city
does come in and put in a school park
next to it.
The let's program that I spoke up
earlier, this is a program where
we have two police officers that are
going into the fifth grade teaching
a set curriculum, and it's followed
up with additional set curriculum
by the fifth grade teachers has been
a great program, very,
very beneficial to the students
this year.
And we're looking even to expanding
that. So we have
a very good working relationship
that we are definitely two different sets
of people.
You had mentioned that
there's the illusion that the city
and school are tied in closer together
than in reality they are.
Do you think part of the confusion
is because one
entity collects it, collects the tax
for both? Do you think that might be a
source of confusion?
Possibly. That could be that
we do have the agreement that the city
does collect all the taxes and
gives the share to the school,
but I think more so.
It's just the general public is
not aware. Sometimes you don't hear
perhaps school board members brought
more to the forefront as you
do when there's politics involved
or some type of controversial zoning
or the mayor.
And that's the people you hear about.
But not too often do you hear about
school board or the people
other than perhaps the teacher, the
principal within the school district.
Right. Right.
I don't believe we talked specifically
about absentee voting.
And I know we covered it in the last
segment. But let's have you tell
the viewers how they go about no
excuse absentee voting, where
that is.
Try to clear up a little bit of the the
confusion on where they vote
since the school and the city.
Absentee voting will be in two different
locations. And walk us through that
a little bit, if you will.
OK, well, absentee voting starts
Monday, April 15th.
You can absentee vote for no
reason at all, just simply because it's
convenient for you.
Perhaps you're in the area and that
would be at fifteen fifteen North
Galloway, which is City Hall.
And that's
City Hall.
That's City Hall,
new facility. Fifteen, fifteen, North
Galloway. And you can go in any time
between eight to five Monday through
Friday to absentee vote.
You do not have to have a voter
registration card with you
any time you want to vote.
You just have to have some form of
identification, such as your driver's
license or even if you have an
old voter registration card, it's
fine. It's helpful to know what your
precinct number is, but we do have ways
to find that out.
There will be one Saturday
of absentee voting, which is April
twenty seventh, also at the
same location at fifteen, fifteen
or Galloway, and that will take place
from ten till three.
Now at City Hall, this is
only for your mayor and city council
places that are up for election,
your school. Board has
their absentee voting at their curriculum
building, which is by Mesquite High
School over between
Davis and Main Street right
there. Now, on May 4th,
the day of the election, the polls are
open from seven till seven
and there are six polling places.
And out of those six polling places,
the school and the city will be housed
in the same building.
There are two separate tables, so
you will have to take the time to go to
two areas, but it will be in the
same building.
Thank you for clearing up
some of those important points on
how and when a citizen votes.
And as a citizen of
Mesquite, I want to thank you and all the
rest of the candidates for
giving us the opportunity to
exercise our right to vote and
participate in what really makes this
country great. We sure appreciate you
putting your name on the ballot.
We appreciate your past service.
And I'm Art Greenhaw.
And we'll look forward to seeing you on
the next edition of State
of the Art.
Don't forget to vote May
4th or no excuse
absentee before that time.