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Primary Election Candidates: Mayor

Austin Mayor candidates will face off in the Sept. 9 primary election, and, to help voters better understand their choices, the Austin Daily Herald has created a questionnaire designed to cover some of the important issues in the city of Austin this election.

Jimmy Dean Hultgren

Background: Manager for Fresco Joe’s at Oak Park Mall.

Prior public office experience: None.

What special skills or experiences do you have to make an effective mayor? I am able to communicate with most everyone on a more personal level. I look for the positive in everything and work to make win/win situations.

What is the top issue of this campaign? U.P.: Unity and Prosperity. To get all areas of the city working together so that we can all prosper.

Are you satisfied with the pace and results of flood mitigation efforts in the city? Everything takes time, and, unfortunately, things don’t happen as soon as we would like.

Are you satisfied with the Mower County Board’s solution to public safety and jail over-crowding issues? This has been an issue for many years and will continue to be one. I feel everyone involved has done their part and more needs to be done and looked at.

The future of the Robbins block is uncertain. Should it be saved? The question should be: What will create the most revenue for the city and all involved.

Local finances: Are they being handled appropriately and in the best interests of the taxpayers? Those before us have done the best they can in the areas that they thought were important, and were to some.

Final remarks? I am here for the people of Austin. I will bring a positive, can-do attitude to the city council. I was to be a revenue generator, not just a revenue taker.

Tom Stiehm

Background: Thirty-two years with the Austin Police Department, serving as a police officer and detective.

Prior elective office experience: Austin Mayor, 2006 to present.

What special skills or experiences do you have to make an effective mayor? Thirty years in law enforcement has taught me how to listen and emphasize with people.

What is the top issue in this campaign? The top issue will be: What should city government do to assist in developing the downtown? I believe we need to work with the county toward these goals.

Are you satisfied with the pace and results of flood mitigation efforts in the city? The flood mitigation is going about as planned. Great strides have been made by the city, but much remains.

Are you satisfied with the County Board’s solution to public safety and jail over-crowding issues? I believe the county is working on the jail and justice center issue as fast as they can. It is a very difficult issue. The county has decided to work with the city to resolve this issue, and I look forward to assisting them in this effort.

The future of the Robbins block is being questioned. Should it be saved? When the county decided to build the jail downtown, it was conditional on their consideration of the Robbins block for parking and/or geothermal.

If the county decides not to tear down the Robbins building that would be great, even preferable, but if they do demolish it for parking, so be it. It’s not worth losing the justice center.

Local finances: Are they being handled appropriately and in the best interests of the taxpayers? The city has done an excellent job managing the taxpayers’ money.

Final remarks? None.

Mark Nagle

Background: Co-owner of South Central Athlete, a clothing and sporting goods store in downtown Austin.

Prior public office experience: None — “only real world experience.”

What skills or experience do you have to make an effective Austin mayor? I have more than 30 years of experience owning and operating businesses in Austin. I know how to manage people and get things done. One of the problems I think many of us have with government is that it tends to be short-sighted and reactionary. We need to plan ahead and have a vision of where we want to go instead of letting problems develop and then running around trying to fix them. My businesses have benefited from my ability to have a vision; our community will too.

What is the top issue of this campaign? Improving the quality of life in the city of Austin. That includes having a vision and a plan for economic development, creating more ways for people to get involved in and improve their neighborhoods and being responsive to the needs of the community.

Are you satisfied with the pace and results of flood mitigation efforts in the city? The flood this past summer illustrated the progress that we have made in recent years, but clearly there is more work to be done. That work needs to be done sooner rather than later.

Are you satisfied with the Mower County Board’s solution to public safety and jail over-crowding issues? I’m not satisfied with the way taxpayer money is being thrown around. It sounds like people are not opposed to a new jail and justice center as long as it’s done cost-effectively. Over the course of the planning and execution of this project, it seems that many of the decisions have been made with personal agendas taking priority over what’s best for the citizens and taxpayers of Mower County. What worries me most is that the rising cost of this project will mean that our schools and other community services won’t be able to get the funding they need to operate in the future.

The future of the Robbins block is uncertain. Should it be saved?

There are currently options other than the Robbins block for what the county would like to do. Both sides must put them on the table. Through a proper dialog and planning between the city and county, the Robbins block can be saved. This will keep more commercial property on the tax rolls and keep commerce sustainable in downtown Austin. The argument over the Robbins block shouldn’t be about what’s best for the county or the city; it should be about what’s best for our community.

Local finances: Are they being handled properly and in the best interests of taxpayers? Taxpayers know how they feel about how their money is being spent. As mayor, I plan on helping craft policy that will use our money more efficiently.

Final remarks? This election isn’t about one issue, it’s about making Austin the best it can be. To get this done we need to develop a long term plan and vision that citizens can feel good about and that government can get accomplished.