Bryan City Council Elections: Southerland and Hughes Unopposed

Bryan residents will go the polls on Saturday to choose city council members. Well, choose might not be the best word. Unlike their neighbors across town in College Station, Bryan residents do not get to choose between the best of two or three candidates. Both candidates running for Bryan City Council are unopposed, which is not good for the democratic process. However, there are five propositions on the ballot that Bryan resident do get to either accept or reject. It is important to look at both of the candidates, even though they are unopposed, and the issues on the propositions.

Mike Southerland is running for re-election as an At-Large (Place 6), and has served the residents of Bryan well. The At-Large position on the city council serves as a voice for all of the residents, and Southerland has consistently taken into consideration the best interests of the residents of Bryan.

In August Left of College Station reported on the Bryan City Council vote to increase the number of city council members was required to place an item on the agenda. Council member Southerland was one of the two dissenting voices, the other being council member Al Saenz, that voted against the change and who vocally supported both the principle of democracy and the will of the people. Southerland voiced his opposition to the change by saying that “in the hast to pass a law that limits the voice of the citizens due diligence has not been exercised.” After the decision by the Bryan City Council over 1,800 Bryan residents, which is twice the average number who vote in municipal elections, signed a petition to override the city council. Mike Southerland has truly represented all of the residents of Bryan.

Southerland also supports the revision of the animal ordinance which allows for warrantless home inspections and searches, and has stated that the new program “attempts to balance the health and safety of the animal and the citizens with the pet owner rights.” Pedestrians, bicyclist, and wheel chair users should have complete and safe access to residence, commerce and employment within the city, and Southerland supports using the capital improvement plan to “more effectively solve these issues.” Also, Southerland supports spreading the expenditures throughout the five districts and not focusing so heavily on downtown Bryan. Another initiative that Southerland supports is promoting locally owned business by restricting the size of retail outlets.

Southerland has supported green initiatives, such as the recycling program at Wal-Mart, the compost facility, Keep Brazos Beautiful; however, he stopped short of endorsing the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, which the College Station City Council has signed. Although Southerland does not support a curbside recycling program he does support any ideas that will improve the environment of Bryan and “any recommendation that can reduce waste is welcome.”

Art Hughes is a Bryan City Council candidate for Single Member District; Hughes is running for Ben Hardeman who is stepping down after two terms do to term limits. Three years ago Hughes, who is a project manager for Madison Construction, ran an unsuccessful campaign against Hardeman.

Hughes has said that he is “not aware of any real problems” with requiring three council members to place an item on the agenda. While he did not voice support of the proposition to change the requirement he said that he would respect what the “majority of the voters decide.” Also, Hughes has stated that he is not aware of unjust practices against pets and pet owners, and has stated that although he supports the rights of pet owners that those rights must “not infringe on the rights of others.” As for increasing access for pedestrians, bicyclist, and wheel chair users Hughes supports making “all public areas and buildings accessible when possible.” Hughes does not support any restrictions on businesses, and feels that competition is good for all businesses in the community.

Perhaps the most significant problem with Hughes is his views on the environment. While he believes that the community should strive to keep the environment clean he does not support the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, and feels that the “global warming issue is an ongoing debate” and that the city council should be cautious in making decisions “based solely on what we presently know about global warming.” Also, Hughes does not support the curb side recycling program but not for the same reasons that Southerland has expressed; Hughes believes that you do not “encourage responsible behavior by making it easier to do the right thing.”

Hopefully next year more Bryan residents will take an active role in their local government. The best ideas and solutions come from a variety of sources and voices, and the more that people are involved with the government the more likely that our government will work for the citizens.

Left of College Station supports council member Mike Southerland for re-election.