Candidates
Keely Briggs
Gerard Hudspeth
Michael Mitchell
Candidate Surveys
- Denton Environmental Candidate Survey—by Texas Campaign for the Environment and Denton Conservation Alliance
- Voter Guide for Denton City Elections—League of Women Voters of Denton
- 2020 Candidate Questionnaire—by Bike Denton
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?
Keely Briggs
Increased Community engagement and transparency has been a priority of mine since day 1. As a district representative I have kept the lines of communication open and clear with the residents and businesses in District 2 by meeting people where they are – in person, phone, email, blogs, social media, neighborhood groups, digital newsletters, and regularly scheduled District 2 conversations. As mayor I will continue this strategy of intentional communication by holding town-hall meetings across each of Denton’s districts and will be adding a monthly meeting with businesses in our community.
Gerard Hudspeth
I have a clear record of promoting open communication on the council. And I want to do more. In the past, people could have direct and daily contact with their leaders. But this has been pushed that to the wayside as cities grew. Advances in technology help me bring that tradition back. As Mayor, I will continue with direct monthly meetings with citizens and use “CivicPlus”, a constituent relationship app to ensure citizens always have a voice. I will also continue to be active with local nonprofit organizations to participate in their weekly scheduled event. I have an open door.
Michael Mitchell
A complete overhaul of the city website and pairing it with an app. One of the features would be a public online space for easier interaction between information, the city, and its people.
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?
Keely Briggs
Extreme record breaking temperatures, drought, flash flooding, water supply, loss of habitat/insects. We must put a priority on green infrastructure and protecting and preserving our forests. The barriers would be funding and a lack of urgency by council.
Gerard HudspethOne of my top environmental and land development concerns is guarding against developmental sprawl. I support policies to incentivize infill development and repurpose existing buildings. Another priority is the tree canopy and green spaces. I will work to ensure both increase every year.
Michael Mitchell
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?
Keely Briggs
We have to acknowledge that it is indeed a real pandemic . From there we need to continue to work closely coordinating resources, efforts, communication, and policy with Denton County and the State of Texas. But, we have to recognize our foremost duty is to the health and safety of our residents here in the City of Denton. This means that we need to be ready and willing to act locally, on our front lines, in our best interest, in real time. This pandemic has exposed weaknesses and reluctance in larger government institutions to take action in a timely manner. Our willingness to take action locally helped save lives and deliver better health outcomes. In addressing local economic impacts we need to collaborate with our businesses to get creative and have flexibility. Further as we own our municipal utilities, we can continue to be willing to help businesses and residents alike by not cutting off their utility service for late payment during this pandemic induced economic downturn.
Gerard Hudspeth
The city can take an active role in partnering with the business community. The city economic development department should bring forward policy decisions that could help existing businesses and encourage new businesses to open in Denton.
Michael Mitchell
They could call for better support from the state and the county
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?
Keely Briggs
We do not need to renew the many outside contracts of waste we allow to come in to our landfill once they expire. If we are to prevent a 210ft trash pile we have to start doing something now. Recycling will help but it isn’t the answer. We can make multifamily units and commercial recycle but if it’s contaminated it will not be recycled. So education is still critically important. We need to start composting programs or change our policy to allow for private companies to begin composting in our city. There is so much food waste!
Gerard HudspethThe landfill expansion is not imminent and will be decided by a future city council. Denton has a number of programs that encourage citizens to reduce and divert the amount of waste. For example, the dumpsters downtown were removed so that the individual commercial customers could be accountable for their solid waste. Also, this change helped with illegal dumping. Denton offers recycling centers and free pick up to discourage illegal dumping.
Michael Mitchell
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?
Keely Briggs
We need to keep our 2019 Bond projects for for sidewalks and land a high priority. And we need to use open spaces and existing right of ways to add connector trails. Stying on top of these projects means making sure they are completed in a timely manner… 3 to 10 year completion schedules are not acceptable.
Gerard Hudspeth
If I am elected Mayor, I will push for a definitive plan that prioritizes safe pedestrian routes utilizing the City’s right of way. The plan will be phased and will identify projects that are actionable immediately, intermediate, and long-term. The finalized plan will provide city staff and future councils with a clear direction. It will also make it easier for citizens to track and measure progress.
Michael Mitchell
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?
Keely Briggs
I am not in favor of selling Gibbons Creek so that it can continue to run as a coal plant. In 2015 we were told as part of our renewable Denton Plan this dirty polluter would come offline. Most decisions then were made based on that assumption. All generation goes into the grid. Denton has committed to a 100% renewable energy goal and city leaders will need to continue to work and maintain that goal to help the grid stay as clean as possible.
Gerard Hudspeth
I cannot provide an answer because this decision has not come before council. It is important to have all available and updated information before making a decision of this magnitude.
Michael Mitchell
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?
Keely Briggs
To leave Denton a better place than we found it and to lay a foundation for the health, prosperity, and happiness of Denton’s future generations. We get there with people and leadership that is focused on building bridges toward that vision in this troubling time of deep national and global division. This is an overwhelmingly good community. We have so many caring and decent people that we are fortunate to call our neighbors and friends. And we benefit from the positive work of our numerous non-profits and charitable organizations. They make us better. They make Denton a place that cares about people.
Gerard Hudspeth
My vision for Denton is to preserve the diverse family-friendly community that I grew up in 47 years ago. The population will grow, but good city policies can keep the close-knit culture. As Mayor, I will protect that culture by supporting policies that attract first-time homebuyers, such as keeping taxes as low as possible. To accomplish that, I support strategies to attract high-quality businesses to grow the commercial tax base. That brings jobs and also shifts the tax burden away from homeowners. Jobs and low taxes will allow our children to grow up here, graduate here, and then work and raise a family here.
Michael Mitchell
My hope is that we can do things no other city has done and move boldly into the future. The systems we have in place for communication and organization have been shown to be inadequate for dealing with anything that isn’t maintaining the status quo. We need large scale restructuring of all of these systems. Why that would look like I wouldn’t dare to specify without studying this massive amount of available data and getting the communities that live here involved.
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?
Keely Briggs
500ft. is better than 250ft. Data from other studies suggests it should be more. Without a local Denton study, 500Ft was agreed upon and it is in place. With the 500ft, I believe other measures should be implemented to help with safety. Soil and water testing, local health impact study, continued/increased inspections, notifications to homeowners and air monitoring around sites.
Gerard Hudspeth
Personal health concerns are not a one size fits all solution. As Mayor, I would take a very active role in ensuring Denton’s public health. Public health is a core responsibility of the City Council, per the city charter.
Michael Mitchell
No Response
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