Candidates
Jon Hohman
Connie Baker
Daniel Clanton
Ronnie Anderson
Kady Finley
Issues
- Government Transparency & Public Outreach (League of Women Voters)
- Local Climate Impacts (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
- COVID-19 Impacts (League of Women Voters)
- Landfill Expansion & Zero Waste (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
- Transportation Infrastructure (Bike Denton)
- Renewable Commitments (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
- Vision for Denton (League of Women Voters)
- Gas Drilling and Development Setbacks (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
Selected Candidate Responses
1. Government Transparency & Public Outreach (League of Women Voters)
What strategies will you use to ensure open communication between City Hall and residents?
Jon Hohman
“Nothing about us without us.” More people, from more diverse backgrounds, make better decisions together. For example: I’d like public comment to be allowed during work sessions when our input is most influential and valuable to council, city staff, and residents alike. Public comment must be made publicly to be effective; where all those concerned know the issue is on the table and can’t avoid it. Public comment as an email or white card that isn’t read aloud at council and isn’t published in the minutes of the meeting for months, as it stands today, rather than being effective, only contributes to the Spiral Of Silence. People can influence the decisions being made that effect them best while the issues are actively being deliberated at the work session rather than right before the vote is to be taken at the evening session and council should have settled on their evaluations and staff have already gone home. The rest of the time my phone number’s posted and I always take the call.
Connie Baker
No Response
Daniel Clanton
I will be available thru email, phone, community meetings, social media. Many of these other candidates already have but I want to include virtual meetings.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
2. Local Climate Impacts (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
What are your greatest concerns about the impacts of climate change on Denton and its residents, and what must the city do to mitigate those impacts? What barriers exist to getting these solutions enacted?
Jon Hohman
Because “Climate Change” lends itself to unnecessary controversy, please allow me to address the ecological collapse that is nearly uncontested:
We suffer this collapse along with our children in Denton with: our F-rated air from impervious surface area devoid of healthy soil and vegetation that would otherwise scrub green house gases and particulate matter, general biodiversity loss from continuous unsustainable development, flood/drought extremes, heat island effects, contaminated watersheds, crop nutrient loss, toxins in our parks and playgrounds around our children and expectant mothers (“biosolids”/Industrial Sewage Sludge, synthetic fertilizer/pesticides), etc. most of which affects marginalized people worst.
Following through with Denton’s current commitment to ecosystem function- as partly expressed in Section 5 of the Denton Plan 2030- would solve these problems while saving us money; making green work for us by transitioning from a stewardship to a biomimicry model or from car-centric to pedestrian-centric urban design.
Barriers are: outside interests versus a public too busy, trusting, over-worked or unfamiliar with proven New Urbanism benefits to demand them. Our disconnection from each other and nature- manifesting in our state of denial of infinite growth with finite resources.
Connie Baker
My greatest concerns are about increased heat, drought, insect outbreaks and declining water supplies that lead to a reduced yield in crop, roadways, bridges, wildfires, etc. Same with extreme rainfalls in other areas. Many climate changes effects are manageable by reducing emission gases. Planning ahead and taking action to build protections where already exposed in vulnerable areas.
Daniel Clanton
We need to look to our green spaces and tree canopy.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
3. COVID-19 Impacts (League of Women Voters)
What actions can the city take to address the health and economic impact caused by
COVID-19?
Jon Hohman
“There is no need to separate the processes of healing ourselves, the environment, and our communities.” Didi Pershouse. Marginalized people get hit worse too. When Harvard researchers note that the “majority of the pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death from Covid-19 are the same diseases that are affected by long-term exposure to air pollution” then cleaning our local air takes on a new urgency. When Vitamin D has proven successful at keeping covid patients out of the ICU then this adds to the fact that we separate ourselves further from the natural environment at our great peril. Looking at Denton holistically by taking notice of health equity, available nutrition (think food deserts), housing conditions (think ozone and heat island effect) -along with many other environmental and social determinants of health- and incorporating them into localization models like the “regenerative economy” and “economics of happiness” will make Denton more resilient, less dependent.
Connie Baker
No Response
Daniel Clanton
I would like the city to help with bars to become restaurants and open meeting the CDC recommendations.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
4. Landfill Expansion & Zero Waste (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
Denton is in the final stages of permitting to expand its landfill to over 200 ft high. Right now, over 50% of annual trash disposal is coming from outside cities and businesses at wholesale rates. What kinds of programs and policies would you consider to reduce trash volumes at the Denton Landfill from within the city and from outside cities and businesses? Would you consider any recycling mandates for businesses or apartments, or food waste diversion mandates (composting, food donations) for food businesses?
Jon Hohman
Yes because the number one landfill input is food and Americans waste half of their food. Food is wasted at every level of the supply chain. We’re literally throwing money away. Do we want to waste it or divert it? Feed the disadvantaged or let it rot? Feed livestock or pay for more feed? Compost it and fertilize Green Infrastructure and the local food economy to bolster local resilience or leave it and lean on more dependency?
There’s a ton of alternatives to so many of these environmental issues that so many multiple municipalities all across the globe are profiting from and taking advantage of- why should we short change ourselves and leave ourselves behind?
The first step in innovation is defining the problem so when did we all vote to become North Texas’ Mount Trashmore? Is that a problem for you? Did you hear the part about outsiders paying less to dump on Denton too?
When only 18% of landfill is actually not compostable or recyclable, then we have a nice starting metric for the problem that many Zero Waste innovations can solve here in Denton.
Connie Baker
It is my understanding that clothes are a big item in landfills. It would help to have more clothes recycle bins around town and encourage people to donate to our 2 Goodwill centers. Bringing your own cloth bags for groceries helps save the landfills from plastic bags. Composting sites would be helpful with leftover food items, such as, banana peels, egg shells, etc. Recycling bins for paper and cardboard, etc. at business would be very beneficial. Denton has a great recycle program with containers available for home use. We need to use them more by talking to our community members.
Daniel Clanton
I know that selling the right to outside cities keeps taxes down. I am not for this practice. I would like to see recycling containers near business and apartments
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
5. Transportation Infrastructure (Bike Denton)
The Denton 2030 Plan and the Sustainable Denton Plan have goals for a more walkable, bikeable city as a way to improve fiscal and environmental sustainability, reduce traffic and congestion, improve air quality, and improve community health and safety. However, movement toward expanding sidewalks and safe bicycle infrastructure has been slow, leaving us with an incomplete network with dangerous gaps in infrastructure. What will you do to speed up the implementation of infrastructure that gives Denton residents the option to travel safely around town without an automobile?
Jon Hohman
Consult with anyone and everyone about restricting irresponsible development that costs the developers and the city while encouraging responsible, sustainable development that saves developers and the city money. Developments must not be a drag on our economy and well being, as they currently are, and are currently slated to be. One single example is Hunter Cole Ranch that actively discourages solar panels.
Connie Baker
Making a map of the “gaps” throughout the city will help focus attention on them. Such a map can then be used to chart progress and keep citizens, as well as City Administrators, informed so that prioritization of each gap-filling project can be accomplished. This map should be committed to being up-dated and used for bond committees and new developments in impaired areas.
Daniel Clanton
One thing I would like to see is a complete plan or a combination of all the plans in the works. I would then like to see the project plan with dates. This is a my number one concern on my platform.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
6. Renewable Commitments (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
Denton has committed to using only 100% renewable energy and reducing air pollution. Recently there was a possibility City Council would have to decide whether or not to sell its share in the Gibbons Creek Coal Plant, which would restart the plant and create non-renewable energy and air pollution. The Gibbons Creek site still may be sold to be used for industrial processes that could create harmful emissions. How would you ensure Denton upholds its commitment to renewable energy and reducing air pollution?
Jon Hohman
I believe the money’s already been set aside to clean the area up. Issues like these come and go- this is why it’s so important to change the world where you live, and if it isn’t you standing up to do it, who is it?
I decided to run as a candidate to change the world where my children live and play so I’d vote against any measures seeking to betray Denton’s commitment to renewable energy.
To a city leaking and misplacing its money the temptation is greater- I get it. You’re strapped for cash and your principles start to slide- so get up, look around, and find another way: advocate for local resiliency over outside dependency.
It’s a commitment we made on the broader scene, not just for our air, water and soil but for our neighbors’ clean air, water and soil too- municipalities can be good neighbors too and follow through to be good on our word. It’s simple.
Isolation is a most destructive illusion and we’ll all need our neighbors in mutual aid for the downturn we’re only just glimpsing, blinded by again (and it can’t be overstated) society’s state of denial of infinite growth with finite resources.
Connie Baker
The Gibson Creek Coal Plant would be beneficial to decommission the plant and go with the plan to create a family-friendly area. Selling the Gibson Creek Plant could endanger the health of area residents and polluting the air and water.
Daniel Clanton
Declined to Respond
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
7. Vision for Denton (League of Women Voters)
What is your vision for the future of your municipality and how would you achieve it?
Jon Hohman
Denton rocks! Now how to keep the guitars plugged in? Too many studies reflect it and the verdict is proven over and over again: local resilience through a pedestrian friendly local economy- steals the limelight from sprawl. New Urbanism city design provides a higher quality of life that attracts new residents and jobs and keeps college grads local and thriving. The same things that make a city more sustainable make it more livable and economically enviable. I’d like to see Denton keep a packed house- standing room only.
Connie Baker
No response
Daniel Clanton
To help the citizen to have the best city with good roads, clean parks, sidewalks to get to anywhere in Denton. I plan to push for all road work to be completed quickly. Sidewalks are in the plans but need to be pushed forward. I also will help the local businesses by working to reduce regulations for business to thrive.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
8. Gas Drilling and Development Setbacks (Denton Environmental Candidate Survey)
The city recently voted to expand reverse setbacks on development near gas wells to 500 ft. Do you believe the 500 ft reverse setback is sufficient to protect public health? What measures would you like to see implemented to mitigate health concerns from potential air, water, soil, and fire concerns related to gas wells?
Jon Hohman
Will the reader pause and take a moment to think back to playing in the clean river when you were a kid… Or did you ever get the benefit of trusting the well water at your friend’s ranch? Or have the luxury of not having to filter water for your cattle? That’s what’s at stake due to hydraulic fracturing all across the country and especially here where there’s around 300 wells already. Did you read the recent article about how some of the hill country’s water has turned brown or how you can light your faucet on fire in Fort Worth- because of fracking and socially suicidal fossil fuel operations?
No, I do not believe it is near sufficient and the only scientists who disagree are cashing fossil fuel interests’ paychecks or private interests who stand to profit at the expense of their neighbors’ childrens’ health for generations down the line.
Did you read about the fracking magnate in Fort Worth who tried to sue for the well too close to his house? This is a community rights issue and we’ll be seeing them asserted more and more everyday. Look to Grant Township in Pennsylvania in the Hidden Hand documentary…
Connie Baker
No, I feel 500 ft. is still too close to protect the public. I am not sure what measures could be implemented, but i would be willing to look into this matter.
Daniel Clanton
More testing around the wells. I am for capping of the wells near neighborhoods.
Ronnie Anderson
No Response
Kady Finley
No Response
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