The four candidates for the City of Tomball’s two municipal races took advantage of their best opportunity yet to get their messages out during a two-hour community forum April 8.

The event was hosted by the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce and held at Lone Star College Tomball. Mayor candidates Gretchen Fagan, the city’s current mayor, and her opponent, Judy Wilson, along with Position 3 candidates Bill Webb, the incumbent and his opponent, Rick Brown answered 25 questions posed by those in attendance through a moderator.

Pictured, candidates for the City of Tomball municipal elections gathered April 8 at Lone Star College-Tomball for an open forum. Pictured (from left to right), Bill Webb, Gretchen Fagan, Rick Brown and Judy Wilson answered questions from the public who were in attendance.

Following two-minute opening remarks by each candidate, the four had one minute to answer each question. The following are highlights from the forum.

The Top 3 Issues Facing Council

BW (Bill Webb): Drainage, mobility and governmental transparency. “The City of Tomball has had a history of flooding with just two or three inches of rain,” Webb said.

GF (Gretchen Fagan): Growth, funding and strategic planning. “There is an increasing need for funding for city projects,” she said.

Rick Brown (RB): Hometown values, budgeting and eliminating a division in the city. “How do we keep our values in tact while dealing with the growth around us?”

JW (Judy Wilson): The impact on the Tomball job market of the health care reform bill and the reduction of the city’s reserve fund. Wilson stated that the city’s reserve fund has dropped from $26 million in 2007 to $14 million in 2010.

The Biggest Waste of Taxpayer Money Recently

BW: Surveys performed by the city and money spent on efforts to purchase Hooks Airport. “I’m really not aware of any wasted projects the city has undertaken.”

GF: Fagan cited the $140,000 the city paid to former City Manager Jan Belcher after the city “had nothing to tell the citizens” or Belcher as to why she was being dismissed.

RB: Brown also mentioned the money paid to Belcher. “There were not good answers why she was released.”

JW: “The City Manager leaving was on her own accord,” Wilson said. “Why we paid her, we’d need to go back and look at the contract. City council should be held accountable.”

How to Increase Repairs of City’s Infrastructure

RB: “I would look at the money available, talk to the city staff who are the experts.”

JW: “It’s problems are very important and should be at the top of this list. It requires a leader with their eye on the ball, not things that seem to be a distraction.”

BW: “The City of Tomball has maintenance crews that continually improve our infrastructure. Our city staff and council has done a great job.”

GF: “I agree that our infrastructure has deteriorated. How do you pay for those improvements?” Fagan said the city will hold a June workshop to consider more infrastructure improvements.

How Can the City Balance the Budget?

JW: “We need to re-evaluate the budget, and review capital projects. Do they still need to be done?”

BW: “Capital improvements are the main issue and we should take a hard look at those.”

GF: Fagan explained Wilson’s claim of the decrease in the reserve fund balance. “We had a plan to draw out those reserves. We had millions and millions to do projects like Brown Road (extension).”

RB: “City staff is working at bare bones as I understand it. It’s going to take good leadership from more than just city council and the city staff.”

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