Gary Nelon, Ken Love, and Benito Gonzales

Gary Nelon, Ken Love, and Benito Gonzales

Tuesday, 07 August 2007

Gary Nelon, Mayor of Georgetown

• Elected: May 2006

• Term Expires: May 2008
• Education: University of Texas, Bachelor’s degree in finance
• Family: Married 35 years, one daughter and one son
• Years in Georgetown: 13
• Contact: 930-3651; mayor@georgetowntx.org

Q. How did you first get involved with politics?

A. I was recruited to run for the job of mayor in the spring of 2002. I had served on lots of boards for non-profits, but I’d never been in the political arena. I went through a lot of soul searching as to whether it was the right thing to do.

Q. What’s the biggest issue facing Georgetown today?

A. Keeping up with the needed infrastructure to handle the growth that we’re seeing. That’s everything from roads to utilities.

Q. What are some other big issues facing the city?

A. None of them compare to managing the growth-related issues. We do spend quite a lot of time making sure that we do all we can to keep economic development at the forefront. We would love for our residents to have job opportunities here as opposed to commuting somewhere.

Q. Why is right now the best time to live in Georgetown?

A. Just go look at your alternatives. It’s a beautiful place with natural resources, and we’ve got an attitude that says we’re warm and welcoming.

Q. What is something many people don’t know about the area?

A. Most people don’t realize why our municipal tax rate is low. People assume it’s high, and they don’t realize Georgetown has made some wonderful decisions, including to own all its utilities, even electric. We have a four-legged stool. We have almost equal distribution of income from sales; property tax; our return from our investment of utilities; and fees for service, like developer fees, franchise fees and such. It lets us have the lowest area tax rate.

Q. Where would we find you on the weekends?

A. Fishing, working in my garden or hanging with my dogs.

Ken Love, Mayor of Hutto

• Elected: May 2006
• Term Expires: May 2008

• Education: University of La Verne, Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice; graduate courses in legal services
• Family: Married 38 years, two sons and six granddaughters
• Years in Hutto: Six
• Contact: 759-4033; ken.love@huttotx.gov

Q. How did you first get involved with politics?

A. I think I had always been interested in politics. When I moved to Hutto, I saw a need for a library, so I started coming to the different city council meetings and expressed that. I found out that someone else was already working with the city council in regard to that matter. Eventually an opening came up in the Planning & Zoning Commission. I put in an application and was chosen. I also thought it was a way to help my community.

Q. What is the biggest concern facing Hutto today?

A. For me it is attracting the business sector to our community. Right now we have a great number of residential homes. Our business sector is a little slow coming to us. It presents a challenge the city council, chamber, economic development corporation and administrative staff are ready to meet.

Q. Why is right now the best time to live in Hutto?

A. Because of the challenges that are before us, and because the community members have an important role in shaping how Hutto will be. Also, to keep those things that a lot of people move here for — our educational system and that hometown atmosphere our city still maintains and intends to keep.

Q. What do most people not know about the area?

A. When you’re here at night, you can still look up in the sky and not have a lot of clutter and see the stars. We’re still a fresh community.

Q. What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

A. It’s twofold: being able to serve my country as a member of the United States Air Force for 24 years and being able to continue that service as the mayor and councilman for the city of Hutto.

Q. Do you have a favorite regional food?

A. Since I have been in Texas, I have really grown to love the barbeque brisket.

Benito Gonzales, Mayor of Taylor

• Elected: June 2006
• Term Expires: June 2008

• Education: Taylor High School graduate with training in appliance repair
• Family: Married 35 years, three daughters and eight grandchildren
• Years in Taylor: Lifelong resident
• Contact: 352-3676; benito.gonzales@ci.taylor.tx.us

Q. How did you first get involved with politics?

A. My older brother and a few others back in the ’70s were very involved in trying to elect an Hispanic into our community for representation. I was involved in the community, and being that I lived in District 2, I was asked to run in that district. I ran and was elected to the city council in 1986.

Q. What is the biggest challenge facing Taylor today?

A. Our challenge is the growth. We feel that it’s coming, since Hutto is going through it, and we feel that we will be getting the growth in the very near future. We’re in the process of getting ready for it.

Q. Why is right now the best time to live in Taylor?

A. It’s always been the best place to live. We have good schools. We’re currently working on East Williamson Park, which will feature 10-12 new baseball fields. We’re known for our barbeque. We are improving our downtown, and I think that will be a big plus for us in the future.

Q. What is something many people don’t know about the area?

A. We have a lot of visitors year round, for the snake shows, barbeque cook-offs, rodeo and tractor pulls. We’ve always had many activities to pull people to town.

Q. What are some big changes happening right now?

A. We’re getting a new high-pressure plant that will be able to supply water needs for the northwest part of town. We’re going to build a wastewater line that will serve that whole area in the future. We’ll also be getting the streets that have failed on us up to par.

Q. What is something most people don’t know about you personally?

A. I’m a [Green Bay] Packer fan, and I love building things and working with my hands.

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