By Edmond Ortiz
Managing the speed of New Braunfels’ growth is pervasive issue for the nine residents on the city’s May 2 election ballot, including four mayoral candidates.
Mayor
Attorney Neal Linnartz seeks a second term as mayor. He previously led the New Braunfels Economic Development Corp. board, New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, and the Comal County Bar Association. Linnartz said, if re-elected, he would concentrate on smart growth, public safety, protecting the city’s character, fiscal responsibility, and thoughtful economic development.
Linnartz’s opponents are U.S. Army veteran and communications professional Michael French, disabled veteran and business owner Jonathon Frazier, and real estate agent Angela Allen.
French is a former White House staffer who says current city leaders do not listen to ideas or concerns presented by residents. His campaign priorities include smart growth, planning for the city’s long-range water needs, expanding a better-equipped police force, proposing a crime control and prevention district, and changing culture at City Hall.
Frazier is a technology professional who is advocating for greater transparency in city finances and major public projects, improved communication between city government and residents, and affordability, especially regarding housing, utilities, tax rates, and city policies that may affect people’s money.
Allen is a Mission Hills Ranch resident who has been among the vocal critics of a nearby controversial housing proposal. Key issues in her campaign are smart growth with a focus on maintaining infrastructure, bolstering public safety, protecting waterways, reducing flood risks, and enhancing overall city services.
City Council District 5
Councilmember Mary Ann Labowski drew opposition from sales professional Chase Taylor, a past city building standards commissioner who now serves on the city’s planning commission, and workforce housing advisory committee.
An outreach community coordinator for local company Pak Medical Group, Labowski is focusing her re-election campaign on positive growth management, preserving the city’s small-town appeal, infrastructure, economic development, transportation, public safety, affordable housing and property taxes.
Taylor claimed current city leaders seek to indulge personal agendas and serve special interests instead of helping the community as a whole.
His campaign themes greater transparency at City Hall, more participation from residents, housing affordability, boosting government, accountability and oversight, and slowing down growth enough so that the city can catch up and improve infrastructure.
City Council District 6
Councilmember April Ryan has two challengers: Army veteran and past combat medic Nikki Shaw, and test engineer Steven Voges.
Co-owner of local bakery 2tarts, Ryan is seeking a second term in office. She said she remains committed to fiscal responsibility, investing in infrastructure, maintaining adequate public safety, and improving the quality of life.
Shaw is a political newcomer who hopes to apply her experiences as a military officer toward city issues such as smart growth, maintaining quality infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, affordability challenges, especially regarding senior citizens, veterans and young families, and helping to improve schools.
Voges works at Continental Automotive’s local manufacturing facility, and actively volunteers with local events and civic organizations.
Voges said he would like to use his professional skills and experiences toward helping to address issues such as planning adequate, long-term infrastructure, raising standards for future development, promoting greater transparency and accountability at City Hall, and investing in gathering spaces and ways to better connect people with local businesses. New Braunfels council seats have three-year terms.
Get involved
Early voting will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 20, 22-24, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April; 25, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. April 27 and 28 at the Comal County Elections Office, 396 N. Seguin Ave., and the Comal County Offices, Church Hill Annex Training Room, Suite 1400, 1345 Church Hill Drive, both in New Braunfels. The following seven polling sites will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Election Day.
