Local election season is here again, so, it’s time for voters in Copper Canyon to be aware of the candidates running for seats on the Council.
In this article we deal with the upcoming mayoral race. Challenger Ron Robertson is running against incumbent Mayor Sue Tejml. I invited Mr. Robertson to spend about 10 minutes in a video interview (below) to tell residents something about his background, the current issues facing the town and his reasons for running.
Mayor Tejml will be interviewed on Saturday. A Copper Canyon debate forum is scheduled for Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m., at Copper Canyon Town Hall, 400 Woodland Drive. The following is some biographical info supplied by Mr. Robertson:
“To all my Neighbors; my name is Ron Robertson and I am running for Mayor of Copper Canyon in the May 4 election. You may or may not know me, but, I believe in order to get to know someone and where they are going, you need to know where they have been. Please bear with me while I share with you some things about my background, let you in on a few ideas about what I would like to see happen here in Copper Canyon in the future, and lastly, ask for your support.
Me:
- Married 27 years to my soul mate and best friend, Sylvia, with 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren
- Founder and CEO of one of the top 50 pool companies in the USA with 140 full time employees year round
- Ask to serve as the first PTA President in Coppell ISD in 1987
- In 1988 appointed to Coppell Parks Board
- First President of Coppell YMCA
- Elected to Coppell City Council in 1989, serving until 1997 with four years as Mayor Pro-Tem
- Chaired Finance Committee and managed a budget of over $40 million a year
- Relocated to Bartonville in 1999
- Elected to Town Council 2001 and elected to serve as Mayor from 2002 to 2014
- Negotiated with the developers of the Bartonville Kroger Center on FM 407, which now generates more than $400,000 in sales tax revenue annually to Bartonville.
- Instrumental in creating the first Bartonville Police Dept
- Along with a strong town council, paid off bond debt early saving thousands of tax dollars
- Managed an annual General Fund Budget in excess of one million dollars
- Created the first Economic Development Committee
- Developed and adopted the first Oil and Gas Ordinance in Denton County
- Last but certainly not least, maintained the lowest tax rate in Denton County for all of the 12 years served
- Relocated to Copper Canyon’s rural atmosphere 2-1/2 years ago and would very much like to help Copper Canyon to remain a small rural town
Bringing to the Table:
- Create a Development Review Committee to simplify the zoning, platting and development process
- Review and update the 2004 comprehensive land use plan and development ordinances
- Reduce the unnecessary wasteful spending on legal and engineering fees
- Bring control back to Town Hall by allowing staff to do their jobs without political meddling and micromanagement
- Evaluate the cost of the agreement with Denton County Sheriff’s department for patrol service
- Work toward a solution to improve on the MS-4 drainage issue that plaques many citizens
- Work diligently to reduce the tax rate
- Create an atmosphere of transparency in all areas of Town Management
You:
If you are ready for an open government, a fair and equitable relationship with your town government, good stewardship of the town’s finances, a plan for dealing with and controlling growth and maintenance of our infrastructure, then please consider a vote for someone with over 30 years experience in local government. That would be me, Ron Robertson. Thank you.”
