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THE BATTALION Page 5
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29. 1978
Special election guide
will
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CITY COUNCIL
Place 6
WARD
BOUNDARIES
CITY ELECTIONS
ONLY
ozier
rineij Jim Dozier, 54, 1005 Walton
lilt . Drive, associate professor of finance
saw Texas A&M.
re you in favor of the continued
uirement of a conditional use
Irmit for fraternities and
orities to build their own house?
Yes. The sorority and fraternity
se is a type of property use that
ates problems not created by
w t»|thcr types of building, such as in-
ased traffic and parking prob-
at ioi inis The city is obligated to provide
IcoiHlitional use permit so increased
fair; affic and parking problems can be
nuilfl itrolled for the protection of the
rounding properties.
iVhat role shoidd the students of
enuii xas A&M play in city govern-
nt?
The students can play any particu-
lonsit'i
at If
itistiii!
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a ) [nli! Lorence Bravenec, 42, 1208 Orr,
idL-v ounting professor at Texas A&M.
Ar e you in favor of the continued
fequirement of a conditional use
stiii.!'ermit for fraternities and
e f® verities to build their own
lar role in city government if they are
in fact considered permanent resi
dents of College Station. By that,
they can run for the council, mayor
or serve on many of the commissions
that the city has. It was my sugges
tion two years ago that there be a
student liaison to the city council.
The students do not have a vote but
they do sit in on all of the meetings,
including those that are closed to the
public. The reason for creating this
liaison is to allow the students to
know exactly what their city is doing.
Are you in favor of allowing the
city to expand in an eastward direc
tion even though that area lies in a
floodplain?
Of course. Even though the ex
pansion to the east may include the
floodplain, we have an ordinance
which prohibits heavy construction
there to protect it and prevent build
ing which could cause additional
water problems down stream. The
entire eastern direction is not flood-
plain, so the city just wants to make
sure that construction does not occur
there. People like to build in the
floodplain because it is pretty and
when it floods they come to the city
and say, “help”. But the city can t
help because they should not have
been there in the first place. When
structures are built it increases the
flow of water to the downstream
property owners.
Are you in favor of the ward sys
tem? If so, what merits does it have?
If not, what merits does the at-large
system have?
No, I’m not in favor of the ward
(see DOZIER, page 6)
Dozier
College Station residents in Districts 2, 4 and
6 will elect councilmen from their wards April
1. Polling places for City Council elections are
the A&M Consolidated Special Services
Building, District 2; South Knoll Elementary
School, District 4; and the College Station
Fire Department, District 6. The mayor is
elected at large.
In the mayor’s race .
Lorence Bravenec
in-rei
ously*
atlatl
it this point, yes. City Council
:ussed it earlier, and I was in
irofit then. The major reason for
conditional use permit was be-
Ise of fire safety. It’s not a matter
frying to keep them out.
'hat role should the students of
aas A&M play in city govern-
it?
ihey can play whatever role they
it to. City Council has sought
[itional student participation, but
don’t seem to have any interest
[city government. Most of the
igs that council decides have an
•act on the permanent resident,
on the student.
Are you in favor of allowing the
city to expand in an eastward direc
tion even though that area lies in a
flood plain?
There is no building in the flood
plain at this time. We expanded in
the past to control the development
by annexing it through the flood
plain.
Are you in favor of the ward sys
tem? If so, what merits does it
have? If no, what merits does the
at-large system have?
No, Tm not in favor of the ward
system. I haven’t seen any advan
tages materialize. There’s a signifi
cant disadvantage because not
everyone votes on every council
man.
With the at-large system, the
people get the chance to vote for
every councilman.
Will you encourage further
building of apartment complexes
for students and how do you think
this will affect the city in the next
5-10 years?
Well, we re not discouraging it. It
is the market system that controls
the building of more apartment
complexes.
Do you think College Station
needs a property tax increase?
If this bond issue passes on April
1, then we will need a property tax
increase.
Do you see any problems with
the current zoning code? Would
you consider new areas for con
struction?
I don’t see any significant prob-
lems with the current zoning code.
Zoning ordinances permit too dense
apartment complexes.
Would you consider construction
Karl Crawley
Bravenec
of more recreational facilities?
Of course. I’m in favor of con
struction of several types of recre
ational facilities.
Karl Crawley, 19, 217 Aston Hall,
a Texas A&M student majoring in
environmental design.
Are you in favor of the continued
requirement of a conditional use
permit for fraternities and
sororities to build their own
houses?
No. I don’t feel any group at
A&M or College Station should be
discriminated against. If we dis
criminate against sororities and
fraternities building their own
house then we should discriminate
against single’s housing. We can’t
bend the rules for one certain
group.
What role should the students of
Texas A&M play in city govern
ment?
Students need to be a 16t more
active. Most students are apathetic
towards taking an active part in city
government. City Council could
encourage students to be more ac
tive by meeting on campus some
time.
Are you in favor of allowing the
city to expand in an eastward direc
tion even though that area lies in a
flood plain?
No, simply because it (expansion)
would be in the flood plain. I don’t
think College Station builders are
looking at a long range aspect of
what will happen if they develop in
a flood area. City Council needs to
think about placing industry in the
flood plain, not housing.
Are you in favor of the ward sys
tem? If so, what merits does it
have? If not, what merits does the
at-large system have?
I think we need to consider a
combination of the ward and the at-
large system. In the ward system,
you know exactly who you are vot
ing for and the candidate has to
campaign on a grass-roots level. He
can’t blitz the people. I really like
the idea of a neighborhood concept.
Crawley
The at-large system allows for
large turnovers to tbe people, so the
electorate isn’t stuck with the same
representative year after year.
(see CRAWLEY, page 8)
SCHOOL BOARD
Position 7
Herman Brown, 46, 200 Lee, pro
fessor of agricultural education at
Texas A&M.
Do you favor the merger of the
city and school tax offices? What
are the advantages (or disadvan
tages)?
Yes, provided the school district
could maintain control over assess
ment and the tax rate. I favor this in
principle due to possible tax dollar
savings. However, I feel there are
Brown
many problems to be solved before
consolidation can be approved.
Do you favor the car tax insti
tuted by the school tax-assessor?
It’s not so much how I feel — it’s
the law. Everyone must pay taxes. If
automobiles are to be taxed accord
ing to law, they must be taxed. I am
in favor of alternatives such ,as an
increased sales tax or a well-head tax
on oil products. The ad valorem sys
tem is very unfair.
Why do you feel the school tax
office appraisals are higher than
city tax appraisals of the same
property?
I do not know why city appraisals
are higher unless the city hasn’t up
dated its assessments in the last few
years.
How seriously will the school
board take the efforts of the Prop
erty Owner’s Association?
I do not know the answer. I don’t
know how it (the school board) will
react to any organization.
Brown
The A&M Consolidated School Board ballot
includes candidates for Positions 6 and 7.
Three candidates are running for each posi
tion. Polling places are South Knoll Elemen
tary School (8), the A&M Consolidated Spe
cial Services Building (9), the College Station
Fire Department (10), the Texas A&M Uni
versity Center (20), the College Station
Municipal Building (21), College Hills
Elementary School (24) and A&M Consoli
dated High School (31).
Position 6
Hecox
Louis Hecox, 44, 300 Kyle, assis-
nt vice president at R. B. Butler,
it.
Do you favor the merger of the
ty and school tax offices? What
re the advantages (or disadvan-
iges)?
Yes, I do. There’s a tremendous
aste in having two boards of
lualization and two evaluation
>ards. It’s surprising to me that my
ty evaluation is dinerent from my
hool evaluation. So something is
id or wrong, and I don’t know
Inch. Maybe the city is too high
nd the school is too low, or vice-
ersa. But if a place is valued at
imething, it should be this value
verywhere, and not just at the
hool or just at the city.
Do you favor the car tax insti-
ited by the school tax-assessor?
No, I don’t I think it’s a very un
fair tax. Everyone that’s residing in
the city doesn’t register their car
with our county here, and that’s the
only way they can get the registra
tion roll — off the county roll. And
so all of those who register their cars
in some other county are not paying
the tax, they’re not even being bil
led for it.
Why do you feel the school tax
office appraisals are higher than
the city tax office appraisals of the
same property?
I don’t know. That’s one reason
why I’d like to be on the school
board, maybe I can find out.
How seriously will the school
board take the efforts of the Prop
erty Owner’s Association?
I’m not in complete favor of all of
the things the Property Owner’s As
sociation are doing. I’m not a
member now. I was a member last
year. I joined because I was in-
Wasson
Wasson
Bill Wasson, 30, 1608 Austin, di
rector of audits for the Texas A&M
System.
Do you favor the merger of the
city and school tax offices? What
are the advantages (or disadvan
tages)?
Yes, I do favor the merger of the
school and city tax offices, and
would further consider county tax
offices also, providing that the serv
ice to citizens would be as effective.
And also providing that there would
be a study of cost versus benefit that
proved there would be significant
reduction in cost for the taxpayer in
the district. I see this as being the
primary and the only advantage of
real importance to the merger.
Do you favor the car tax insti
tuted by the school tax-assessor?
Hardin
No, I do not. However, it is my
understanding from attending the
board meetings that the board and
the superintendent are in effect
powerless to exercise any control
over the tax assessor as to what he
does or does not tax. Other than
perhaps a statement from the board
saying that they are opposed to the
tax.
Why do you feel the school tax
office appraisals are higher than
city tax appraisals of the same
property?
I really don’t know. I would as
sume that one primary reason is the
fact that two different appraisals,
two different judgements, are made
as to the value of a particular piece
of property. Basically, I would think
that the tax assessor in both in
stances should have arrived at the
same conclusion as to value. My
concern is that all property be ap
praised at its fair market value and
then the tax rate and the percentage
of market value be adjusted as re
quired to meet the needs of the dis
trict rather than having variations in
what is judged to be market value.
How seriously will the school
board take the efforts of the Prop
erty Owner’s Association?
The school board has an obliga
tion to all citizens, but that doesn’t
mean a member should listen to a
particular group any more than
other groups. As a board member, I
don’t think you can respond to only
one group. I feel that a board
member is charged with represent
ing the community as a whole.
Hecox
terested in knowing what they in
tended to do and how they intended
to go about it, primarily.
(see HECOX, page 9)
(Editor’s note: See p. 11 for other Position 6 School Board candidates.)
Walter Hardin, 32, Route 4, Box
56B, Bryan; owner of a Texas based
holding company of income pro
ducing property.
Do you favor the merger of the
city and school tax offices? What
are the advantages (or disadvan
tages)?
Yes, I favor the merger of the city
and school tax offices because a)
evaluations would parallel more
closely the market values of the
properties, b) administrative costs
would be reduced by decreasing
overhead and c) it would strengthen
the foundation upon which the
school district’s future growth could
be based.
Do you favor the car tax insti
tuted by the school tax-assessor?
No, because I don’t see why an
A&M student should have to pay
A&M Consolidated school taxes
merely because he owns an au
tomobile. Also, no equitable system
exists in which we can properly
enforce the law.
Why do you feel the school tax
office appraisals are higher than
the city tax office appraisals of the
same property?
We have to adjust our as
sessments in order to maximize the
money we receive from the federal
government. The city and school
district budgets and tax bases are
not equal to each other, therefore,
the evaluations must be different.
How seriously will the school
board take the efforts of the Prop
erty Owner’s Association?
In the past, they have not re
sponded to the Property Owner’s
Association’s wishes. They defi-
mitely will be forced into considering
their point of view when it behooves
the property owners to move out of
town.
Hardin