Issues Affecting the City of Garland, TX
“A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Ahead with Public Safety
Nothing else matters if you don't feel safe in your bed at night. I am the only candidate who is a graduate of both the Garland Citizens Police Academy and Citizens Fire Academy. I have great relationships with our first responders and pledges to work to better our community through effective and proven policing strategies, fire fighting response, and emergency services.
On City Council, I voted to restore a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for our city retirees, including our first responders. I have also worked to increase the use of the Flock Camera System which has lead to numerous solved cases and criminal apprehensions that otherwise would not have occurred. As your Mayor, I will make sure that our brave police officers and firefighters have all the equipment and latest technology needed to maintain safe streets and communities.
Ahead with Improved Streets and Infrastructure
Who better to help improve the local streets than a Professional Civil Engineer (TX license #102108) who has actually designed, bid and managed major street and infrastructure construction projects throughout his career?
Garland has recently completed a city-wide streets conditions survey, and I pledge to implement the recently Council-approved plan to raise the Overall Condition Index of our streets by seven points to 77 within five years.
Holford Road construction north of PGBT
Ahead with a Community Hospital
After the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center-Garland Hospital closed in February of 2018, Garland became one of the largest cities in the country by population not to have its own hospital.
As your next mayor, I will utilize all my business connections within the development community and authority as mayor to bring a community hospital to Garland. I will continue to advocate for investments in the Medical District area to make it as appealing as possible for future development, and I am committed to implementing the Medical District Plan which aims to:
• Promote and develop a medical campus including a public hospital
• Improve infrastructure & connectivity within the district and to key transportation hubs especially to DART Stations
• Improve the physical environment through targeted improvements to commercial properties and with a trail along Duck Creek
The site of the future Garland Hospital on Walnut. Notice the VA Hospital in the background.
A mural on the Medical Office Building at 601 Clara Barton is evidence of the revitalization already occurring in the Medical District.
Ahead with Economic Development
Garland has a large industrial base which is the economic engine of the city. At the same time, Garland is largely built out with few remaining open parcels. Further economic development in Garland will happen through smart, planned redevelopment by which the needs of developers, industry, residents and the community are all thoughtfully considered and met.
As a civil engineer working in land development, I understand the whole development process from planning to financing to construction. As mayor, I will use that knowledge and work closely with developers to bring the best new projects in Garland. Also as a member of city council, I simplified the zoning entitlement process so that developers can get their projects completed more quickly as compared to our neighboring city competitors thus making Garland more attractive to locate and build.
Ahead with Diversifying City Revenue Sources
I am the only candidate who has advocated for diversifying the City's tax revenue sources by supporting packaged liquor sales to take the burden off of property tax payers. In 2023, I lead a local option petition campaign to allow for the sales of packaged liquor at retail stores in Garland.
Why are we sending our sales tax dollars to surrounding cities such as Dallas and Plano when we should be keeping those sales taxes in Garland and closing the sales tax revenue gap?
Ahead with Equitable Spending
The 2019 Bond program brought great new projects and programs to our City. However with all future spending, we must make sure that no part of Garland gets ignored with any government spending.
On City Council, I advocated for the expansion of TIF #1 to include more properties around the Forest/Jupiter intersection and directed more spending towards that area. Also, I requested the TIF be referred to as TIF #1 rather than as “the Downtown TIF” in city documents. These changes corrected the gross imbalance with over 95% of all funds in the TIF going towards Downtown areas, while the Forest/Jupiter area was largely ignored in both name and spending.
As your next mayor, I will make sure that every area of the city gets the attention it deserves during our Capital Improvement process, from our TIF spending and with any future bond program.
(Image from December 4, 2023 Council Work Session)
Ahead with Disaster Relief
We know Garland has had its share of natural disasters from tornadoes, to ice storms, to hurricane force winds last May. Early planning and preparation are the best ways to be ready for any disaster.
When disaster strikes, I responded with my Brother Knights as part of the Knight's of Columbus Council #8954's Disaster Relief Team capping broken water pipes, cleaning debris, and bringing homes back to livable condition until further repairs can be made.
As your Mayor, I will work closely with the Office of Emergency Management, GP&L, and other city departments to make sure we are ready for what may happen next.
Ahead with City Beautification
On City Council, I successfully implemented a pilot program to plant wildflowers in the medians of roadways around town. We are now in year three of that program and more intersections are being added each year.
In January, Garland completed a Corridors and Gateways Improvement Plan to improve the appearance of motorist entryways into our city. Also as part of Proposition A of the 2025 Bond Proposals, $20 million is set aside to implement a Corridor Revitalization Program.
As mayor, I will build upon the wildflower program and commit to implementing the Corridor Improvement Plan to make Garland a more visually appealing destination for residents and visitors alike.
Ahead with Better Quality of Life
We have made great progress on implementing the 2019 Bond Projects, and I pledge to finish the remaining projects as soon as possible. The 2025 Bond Proposals will be the next step to improve the quality of life in Garland with more opportunities to shop, dine, and play, and the Economic Development Master Plan and new Comprehensive Plan provide the roadmap for their implementation.
As Garland's next mayor, I will work everyday to improve quality of life for all citizens in Garland.
Ahead with Open Access to Government
I am a big advocate of making government data available for public use in an easily accessible format. Already we have made roadway conditions, multifamily (apartment) inspection scores, and restaurant health scores available via a GIS platform. Also, a historical database of councilmembers' voting records is available as well.
Providing data paid for by taxpayer's dollars in an easily accessible format is important for keeping your city government accountable.
I pledge to make even more data available as mayor.
Ahead with Consensus
The role of the mayor differs from council members in that one must work to achieve consensus on decisions to move policy forward rather than be divisive. I have great relationships with all members of the city council and pledge to utilize those relationships to keep Garland moving ahead.
As your next mayor, I will serve to improve lives and communities by building trust and relationships in the City of Garland and beyond.
– Hedrick for Garland Mayor Campaign Mission Statement
