Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1974)
Page 6 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1974 ‘City belongs to the people’ Batt special election section That the wishes and desires of the people be followed is the plat form of J. D. Lindsay. J. D. Lindsay Lindsay, candidate and incum bent for place four on the College Station City Council, is a Pro fessor Emeritus of Chemical En gineering. “I feel anyone could run for this position,” said Lindsay. “The city of College Station belongs to the people and should be operated along their aims.” In general, Lindsay said he was in favor of strict zoning laws. “An awful lot of consideration is taken before zoning requests are brought to the city council and we approve pretty much what the committee recommends,” said Lindsay. Lindsay said that the city did pretty good by a place system, but if the people wanted a ward system then he would be in favor of it. “I don’t think that there is a need for experts to be elected into the city council because we have a city manager to get the infor mation we need,” continued Lind say. Although Lindsay favored a mass transit system, he said he would rather see it come about through a private enterprise in stead of through the city. “We’ve got to consider the cost and whether or not the citizen would like to see an increase in taxes,” said Lindsay. Lindsay was concerned about required landscaping for places of businesses in College Station and said the matter was being debated in the council right now. “What is pretty or beautiful is debatable,” said Lindsay. “We want the city to have a good appearance to visitors so they’ll come back so we’re going to have to encourage some landscaping or city beautification.” Lindsay said he was in favor of more and possibly better bi cycle paths. Homer Adams Planning shortcomings cited J. R. (Jim) Gardner says he is running more against the College Station City Council than his opponents. The place 4 candidate said he was concerned with issues involv ing the whole city. Gardner is currently professor of urban and regional planning at TAMU. He is also affiliated with a West Coast consulting firm, mem ber of the Environmental Action Council of Brazos County (1970), member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for College Station, and served on the College Station planning and zoning commission. “The kind of things I’m natur ally concerned with as a planner include cities, especially our own,” said Gardner. “I see shortcom ings in the way the planning is being done now.” Gardner said it was necessary to change people’s attitudes be fore progress can be made and also important for students to play more active roles in the city. Very generally Gardner said he will work for the following: Student Growth in College Station during the next 16 years is one of the most pressing problems the city has, says Charles F. Johnson. Johnson, candidate for coun cilman place four, sees growth as a problem which can be made ben eficial to the city. “By starting now, in 16 years we can see municipal facilities adequate for our needs,” said Johnson. “Additionally we have the potential to realize that there is a definite need for selectivity to create only the highest qual ity of expansion.” Johnson, agency manager for Fidelity Union Life Insurance, has lived in College Station for 16 years and has been and is serv- ■ ing on clubs such as the College Station Morning Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce Blazers and the College Station United Chest. “I lean in a tendency of main taining zoning laws” said John son. “Each individual case has to be examined and evualuated.” Johnson said College Station is fortunate to have zoning, but 1) Planned, economically sound city growth, with order and en vironmental quality. 2) Open government, providing opportunities for and encourage ment of maximum citizen partici pation in public decision-making. J. R. Gardner to be on these laws are only good if basi r cally enforced. “I also lean toward supporting a ward system but I can also see the pros and cons of the situa tion.” Basically, said Johnson, the ward system is more favorable if we continue to grow. Johnson said if he was appoint ed he would work for the immed iate appointment of a student as an ex-officio member to the coun cil. “We do need representation from the TAMU student body,” said Johnson. Usable parklands was also a part of Johnson’s platform. “I feel we should more fully utilize existing means of acquir ing new parks,” said Johnson, adding that an ordinance prevents added revenue from tax payers for such faciities. Johnson favors required land scaping for the businesses and shopping centers of College Sta tion. “I’d rather look at a bush than a brick. But I do realize that some 3) Developmental decisions (streets, parks, zoning, etc.) based on long range concern for safety and environmental quality rather than short-term economic expediency. Gardner said that landscaping should be mandatory because asphalt isn’t attractive. He also favored bike paths, saying he would like to tie the whole trans portation system together with city involvement rather than by private enterprise. “I don’t know which way to stand on the ward system yet,” said Gardner. “It’s possible it may be a charter change. The council seems to favor the ward system.” Gardner mentioned that one councilman said the ward system would prevent students from tak ing over. “Public participation seems to be a trend now,” said Gardner. He added that City Council work shops were poorly advertised and therefore poorly attended by the public. council? businesses may not be able to adhere as much as others,” said Johnson. Bicycle paths are another one of Johnson’s goals. He said Col lege Station definitely has to keep up with the times especially since more and more people are walking and riding bikes. Charles Johnson Incumbent Adams runs unopposed Homer B. Adams, class of ’47, is the College Station place two incumbent running unopposed in the April 2 city elections. Adams, an agent for North American Van Lines at Adams Transfer and Storage, has been on the council for a total of two and one-half years. Adams said he was in favor of the ward system. “We had the ward system when I served on the council previously and I am sure this works best,” said Adams. Private rather than public tran sportation was favored by Adams. “I hate to see us (the city) get into the operation of a bus sys tem,” said Adams. As far as zoning goes Adams said that each individual tract had to stand on its own. “We have to take into consider ation whether or not it will harm property or individuals,” said Adams. “I am not aware of the city council making any zoning decisions which hurt any resi dents.” Adams said he was in favor of more bicycle paths similar to that located on Glade Street and added the council had already de cided to initiate more such paths. “I don’t think there is any way the city can acquire landscaping for shopping centers and places of business. Around buildings where there is a lot of asphalt I don’t know what you would do,” contin ued Adams. “What one likes in architecture, I may not,” he said. Physicist speaks A leading physicist interested in fire protection and research will be featured speaker Friday at a Texas Engineering Experi ment Station lecture. Dr. Howard W. Emmons, cur rently on sabbatical leave from professorial duties at Harvard, will lecture on his current com bustion research at 2 p.m. in Room 1 of the Zachry Engineering Center. CROSS' SINCE 1S46 Writing Instruments in Lustrous Chrome Pen or Pencil $ 5.00 Set $10.00 Mechanically guaran teed for a lifetime of writing pleasure. Embrey’s Jewelry “The Friendly Store” For the rest of your life. Transcendental Meditation is no gimmick. It works. Take the body, for example. Scientific research, conducted at the Harvard Medical School, has proved that the daily practice of TM slows the body’s metabolic rate down to such a level that the rest received is deeper than that provided by sleep. And it’s so easy. No strange positions. No concentration. No candle gazing. Just deep rest. And a new, more fulfilling activity that’s truly active. But rest is just part of the story. Hear about all the benefits of TM at a free introductory lecture Tuesday & Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the Rudder Tower in Room 604-A. Then try Transcendental Meditation. For the rest of your life. For information call 846-7992 STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL MEDITATION SOCIETY Growth Thomas Chaney Gloria Martinson, candidate for council place five, would like in active citizens to become partici pants in city government. A practical nurse and parttime student at TAMU, Martinson qualifies her candidacy in that she has attended most council meetings in the past three years. Relating issues she finds of particular political significance to the area, she is for a ward system so that students will be insured representation. She also favors mandatory landscaping of shopping centers and busibesses. “They will not do it on their own even though it would be beneficial to both them and the community as a whole,” she said. Martinson said zoning practices in the council have been unfair and biased toward some groups. She said she has attended meet ings where strip zoning decisions have favored vested interests. Martinson says there is a need for mass transit and that the pos sibility for federal aid for it ex ists. Another of her concerns is that the city’s physical adviser is paid about twice as much as other ad visers but for an equal amount of services. She also is concerned that out of 10,000 eligible voters, less than 900 voted in the last election. Gloria Martinson concerns Continued fairness in city gov ernment is one goal of Thomas Chaney. Chaney, an associate with the Richard-Smith Co., said city gov ernment has been doing a good job of allowing everyone to speak and take part in government. Rapid city growth must be con trolled and directed, said the place five candidate. Environmental concerns are important to direct ing this growth. He said land scaping or at least some type of attractive designing should be used by contractors because it is an asset, but would not require it for many reasons. He added that competition will make it neces sary for the businesses and the maintenance costs would have to be paid for by the residents. Whether one votes for or against her, she encourages the public to exercise their voting privileges. Orderly growth is important to the future of College Station, said Lorence Bravenec, candidate for city council place five. A strict constructionist on zoning laws, Bravenec says that other regula tions on the area of zoning are weak and only city zoning can protect the investment of the property owner. Bravenec, an associate profes sor of accounting at TAMU, is also a lawyer and Certified Pub lic Accountant. He stated that he was basically opposed to the establishment of a ward system in College Station because the city is not big enough. He pointed out that when Col lege Station did have this system, the ward system was not always representing the voters equally. Parks and landscaping were another concern of Bravenec. He Awards reception slated Sunday Student Government service will be recognized Sunday at Texas A&M University. Awrds will be given in a 5 p.m. reception in the Rudder Forum, announced President Randy Ross. Sandy Aboud, corresponding sec retary, will serve as master of ceremonies. Attendance is by invitation. Student Senators and commit tee members will receive certifi cates and special awards. The executive committee will receive plaques. In the highlight presentation, the SG outstanding administra tor will be named. Chaney Mass transit is a problem which will necessitate further investiga tion, says Chaney. He explained a bus system might not be the answer to College Station’s prob lem due to traffic conditions and the cost of running it. He cited Houston as an example. “Even as big a city as Hous ton has problems with a bus sys tem,” said Chaney. “The buses block lanes of traffic and must be subsidized due to the financial burden.” The problems with the bad con dition of College Station streets are due to water, said Chaney. He explained much of the problem is because the streets are harmed by rains and it is a long time before the maintenance people can repair the street because it stays wet for so long. “Expansion of the street and sanitation department would help to alleviate the problem,” said Chaney. He urged more people to come to the council meetings and vo calize their thoughts. stated that adequate park land was not being acquired by the city. He cited estimates of two to 10 times the amount of park space more than what is being required by the city will be needed. On required landscaping for businesses and shopping centers, Bravenec said that he is basically in favor of it and that contractors who do not do it are short-sight ed. On transit plans he had the question of what priorities peo ple of College Station wanted to be set first. He pointed out that a bus system and bike paths would be nice, but several other things were also of a pressing na ture such as the need fdr more firemen. Bravenec pointed out that Col lege Station currently had only two full-time firemen and a vol unteer group. He stated that in creasing the size of the Fire De partment possibly would reduce fire insurance rates for the city* Lorence Bravenec Candidate wants more participation Bravenec opposed to ward system Silver Dollar Saloon HAPPY HOUR ALL-NITE LADIES FREE LIVE F.F 1 North Gate 846-5816 807 Texas Ave. Across From A&M