Community Profiles

Community Profiles

Sunday, 07 October 2007

Chris Fielder, Leander City Council, Place 5

Christopher Fielder moved his family to Leander in December of 2003 so his children could attend Leander Independent School District.

He is the vice president of Team Funding Solutions, which provides funding for businesses to purchase equipment, and the author of Never Say Buy, Never Say Sell, a book about sales techniques.

Fielder also speaks at national gatherings of professionals in his industry.

• Education: Associate’s in music performance, Tarleton State University
• Family: Married to wife of 9 years, MaShon. Daughter Hailey, 7, and son Christian, 4
• Contact Information: 964-5143, Cfielder@ci.leander.tx.us

Q. What motivated you to run for council?

A. Long story short, God gives each one of us special talents, and I believe that one of my talents is service and leadership. I saw the direction the city was going, and being a family member and having kids in the school system and a wife who is very involved in the community as well, I believed it was time to step up and contribute. My background is small business, and I felt the city should be run like a small business and try to attract more businesses.

Q. What are some of your goals while on the council?

A. My primary goal is to continue the direction the city is going at this time. I’m very, very pleased with the consistent zoning and the support of the transit-oriented development. In year two, I would really like to start working on a small business Web portal in conjunction with the chamber and city to be able to attract more small businesses as well as give them the tools to succeed in our community.

Q. What is Leanders biggest challenge?

A. Growth. Definitely growth and securing the roadways and the water system. It’s very, very challenging when you have a city that’s growing at 22 percent plus a year. It’s very difficult to keep up with that.

Q. What is Leanders biggest opportunity?

A. The same — it’s the growth. The ability to attract more businesses, because I believe that probably the single most important opportunity is the TOD and the ability to bring in some major employers as well as major businesses.

Q. Why should people move to Leander?

A. The small-town atmosphere. And let me say this about our city staff; we have one of the most impressive city staffs around. From the city manager, police chief, fire chief, deputy fire chief … I’ve had a chance to really get involved with all those individuals. We have an extremely low crime rate. We have great services as far as fire and police protection. We are known to be a very secure city. We are increasing our sidewalks and public safety and working with the city staff to know that the opportunities here are fantastic. Anyone just has to come here and see what we’ve got and see it’s a great place to be.

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Mitch Fuller, Cedar Park City Council, Place 2

Mitch Fuller was chosen for Place 2 of the Cedar Park City Council after Stephen Berry resigned in July.

Fuller, a captain on active duty with the Texas Army National Guard, spent 2005 in Iraq and received several military decorations. Prior to his council appointment, Fuller served on the city’s 4A Economic Development Board. He is working on a thesis paper for his doctorate degree.

"I dont miss sitting in a classroom, but we never stop learning," he said.

• Education: Master’s in public administration, University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in political science, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
• Family: Daughter Madison, 8, and son Braxton, 6
• Contact: place2@cedarparktx.us

Q. What are the successes you’ve had on the 4A board?

A. I was on the 4A board for about eight months, and the primary project when I came on was the event center. This has been attempted in the past, and it didn’t work out. We have the commitment of the 4A board, the city council and the city to get it done, and it is a great opportunity for economic development for the city. It’s also a great way to attract folks to come visit our city, especially if we get minor league sports to come here.

Q. What was your motivation for applying for the open seat?

A. I have a desire to serve. As a former professor of political science, I’ve always had an interest in getting involved as a candidate for public office and in serving Cedar Park; it’s a great place to live. It’s a rapidly growing city with a lot of dynamism.

Q. What is Cedar Park's biggest challenge now?

A. Cedar Park is landlocked, so we have to manage growth because we will eventually hit build out. It’s a good challenge because there is so much dynamism and so much opportunity for economic growth with 1890 Ranch and 1431 and our sales tax beginning to hit a million dollars a month. We have to make sure we manage effectively that build out. We’re in a good spot; people are moving here and we have great schools.

Q. What is Cedar Park’s biggest opportunity?

A. We have a golden opportunity in our hands right now with the event center. It’s about a couple of things. One, it’s likely that minor league franchises will come with the center — potentially hockey and football. Second is to bring in acts. It’s more than about bringing in sports; it’s about bringing in entertainment. Third, we envision seeing the event center being a centerpiece of economic development, so we have to make the investment in the event center because it’s more leverage for economic growth.

Q. What are your goals while you are on the council?

A. I want to continue to manage efficient and effective growth. Second, I want to make sure we maintain a family friendly community. We’ve come from 6,000 in 1990 to approximately 50,000 now, that brings a lot of changes. Third, I want to get more people involved and engaged and build a sense of community.