City Council District G Candidates

Robert Marquez

Phone: 832-714-7082
Email: robert.marquez4pasadena@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.om/profile.php?id=100090819787745
Website: marquezforpasadena.org

 

 

 

Why are you running for city council?

Districts in Pasadena are unique and the Mayor has started a plan to continue to attract families and businesses back to Pasadena, but it seems that we are becoming accustomed to not attaining projects specific to District G. Our homes and businesses were built in the 1960s-1990s, and having lived on Young Street in the 90s, Fairmont Parkway was the place to be. But now businesses and homes in District G need our help. 

I am running to represent the residents of District G to “Secure Progress” meaning that we cannot continue to be the lowest on the project graph of the city’s improvement plan. Infrastructure Health needs to be maintained and improved to support the community needs. While the Mayor can focus on the big picture, a council member must know their district’s needs and communicate this to all departments and the council.  

My goal is to "Secure Progress" for District G by making sure projects recommended get completed, first responders have the tools necessary to respond, prepare and mitigate for hazards, Infrastructure Health is maintained and that District G is part of the plan equally.  I am prepared to represent District G from day one. 

Each council district is comprised of thousands of people who live and work in Pasadena.  What qualifications, job training and/or volunteer experiences prepare you to serve as the representative of your district?

My journey in life has always had Pasadena as the backdrop. From a young age, walking down Fairmont Parkway to work at the local Jack in the Box off Burke, or running in Crenshaw park to get ready to join the United States Marines after graduating from South Houston High School, Pasadena raised me.  I have traveled all over the United States and one thing is certain, Texas is my home and Pasadena has my heart. My knowledge of municipal, safety, security, emergency management and laws are from my experience covering budgets, planning, zoning, economic development, and strategic planning. As a Marine, my character is to get the job done and to Secure Progress.  As the Director of Safe and Secure Schools for Goose Creek CISD, my main purpose it to achieve a safe and secure environment for the 31 campuses of the district. As a previous elected council member of the City of Glen Rose,  Texas,  the city taught me the value of community identity and protecting values as well as preserving tradition. My full list of qualifications can be found on my LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-j-marquez-jr-em . 

What are your top three priorities in serving the city of Pasadena, and one thing you want to advocate for specifically on behalf of your district?

As I continue to talk to the residents of District G these priorities may shift, but so far, these are the top concerning priorities:
1.        Public safety assessment in preparedness, mitigation, prevention, response, and recovery for District G. Do we have access to tools needed and can we leverage mobile applications like an anonymous reporting system and other systems to help support the first responder and our community?  As an Emergency Management planner, having a good plan is always best.

2.        Infrastructure Health. Each district is unique and has specific needs when it comes to streets, roads, and drainage. The strategies used in the Capital Improvement Plan are used to make sure each district is informed of plans and projects in their areas. Having worked in a nuclear power plant, it was important to know the capability of your equipment and any future plans for sustained maintenance. This is no different for a municipality.

3.        Communication with the community. The message and direction from the city is good, but we need to hear and see directly what the city is doing for each district. Expanding the website to include district specific pages and newsletters will create information flow that will support a unified message.

Attracting new business and retaining existing businesses is vital to the success of a community.  Business owners and industry partners large and small are faced with daily challenges - regulations, fees, permitting, workforce challenges and access to information and resources. What do you think needs to be done to support and grow existing businesses and to attract new businesses to choose Pasadena?

The city is primed to modernize its permit process and utility payment system. There are many different programs to support small businesses, but this can be daunting for some business owners. I have a small business certificate with a concentration in property management and even for me, it is difficult. Specifically, District G has struggled to maintain it’s commerce and business corridors as expanding new corridors are moving toward Sam Houston Toll Way.  We should create and promote a Submittal Guide/Checklist similar to Pasadena’s Multi-Family Project Submittal Guide located in the Planning Department website.  This can be a collaboration between the Pasadena Economic Development Corporation, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, San Jacinto College’s Small Business Center and other tools and agencies that can help.  Having a roadmap for a successful startup is key to projected growth and sustainment in the city. 

Our city is mostly developed, and in order to grow, will have to begin to redevelop.  How would you facilitate redevelopment?  What tools (TIRZ, chapter 380 agreements, municipal bonds, livable community funding, management districts, grants) would you support to assist with redevelopment?

My focus would be District G and its existing redevelopment plan of our beautiful community. A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) could support the City of Pasadena but we need to do our home work by benchmarking the various other zones in the area and see how it has helped.  Chapter 380 agreements are effective and I have had experience at the economic development and city council side of the this contract between the business and the city (Glen Rose, Texas).  A Chapter 380 agreement is great if oversight is effective and claw backs in the contract are enforced.  Additionally, our current Charter and Ordinances must be reviewed for any restrictions.  Also, businesses have tradition and values as well and they represent a community.  If a business fails,  it leaves a mark that can affect a community redevelopment, which,  in turn,  is important to District G and the City of Pasadena. I will always support redevelopment strategies, but businesses and programs should be properly vetted before being offered grants. 

“Pasadena Loves Local” is an initiative focused on supporting local business and encouraging all citizens to choose local to benefit our community. In your opinion, what can be done to improve the quality of life in Pasadena so that it is a great place for people to choose Pasadena to live, work, play and shop?

 “Pasadena Loves Local” has a great branding strategy and I am proud that it is here in Pasadena. The focus in some areas is about walkability and convenience.  An example of this can be Fairmont Parkway and its walkability from Shaver to Sam Houston Parkway. It is good to have some sidewalks but it would be great to have sidewalks on both sides of the street. This could connect community to businesses. In other cities across Texas, changes are being made in the way we do sidewalks from an owner responsibility to a city responsibility with way-finding of services (i.e. city service/attraction signage).  Another strategy is including city owned micro parks in older master-planned communities. We have a template in the northern part of the city where a park area could be as big as a block. This could be replicated in District G and other areas of the city using older lots along connecting corridors. My goal is to support the Comprehensive Plan and other plans to make Pasadena a place to live, work, shop and have family fun year-round, especially in District G.  Let’s make Pasadena a place to talk about. If you would like more information, please check out www.marquezforpasadena.org.

Salvador Serrano Jr.

Phone: 281-832-0842
Email: salserrano89@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SalForPasadenaTx

 

 

 

Why are you running for city council?

Community involvement and service were values that I was raised with and these values have guided me throughout my life. I have always had a desire to help my community continue its trajectory and improve. As a city councilmember,  I plan to help and support constituents by being their representative in city council and providing active, dedicated representation for all in my district.

Each council district is comprised of thousands of people who live and work in Pasadena.  What qualifications, job training and/or volunteer experiences prepare you to serve as the representative of your district?

I am a proud business owner in our community and have served on numerous boards. I am a former chairman of the Pasadena Loves local campaign, and a former board member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Planning Commission.

What are your top three priorities in serving the city of Pasadena, and one thing you want to advocate for specifically on behalf of your district?

My main focus is to directly serve in helping the flooding issue in my district, improve safety and be able to address the roads by having them repaired and/or replaced, and advocate for flood control.

Attracting new business and retaining existing businesses is vital to the success of a community.  Business owners and industry partners large and small are faced with daily challenges - regulations, fees, permitting, workforce challenges and access to information and resources. What do you think needs to be done to support and grow existing businesses and to attract new businesses to choose Pasadena?

With all of the new and existing businesses in Pasadena it is vital that we continue educating everyone in regards to permit, costs, fees, and regulations in the city. Creating classes and seminars for them will greatly benefit all the business owners in becoming more knowledgeable and aware of those challenges. 

Our city is mostly developed, and in order to grow, will have to begin to redevelop.  How would you facilitate redevelopment?  What tools (TIRZ, chapter 380 agreements, municipal bonds, livable community funding, management districts, grants) would you support to assist with redevelopment?

I will support any and all tools needed to assist with redevelopment for this city.

“Pasadena Loves Local” is an initiative focused on supporting local business and encouraging all citizens to choose local to benefit our community. In your opinion, what can be done to improve the quality of life in Pasadena so that it is a great place for people to choose Pasadena to live, work, play and shop?

I strongly believe that if we are able to not only promote but support our local business in Pasadena, then we will be able to see economic growth. It is like a domino effect, if we help our local business then we will be able to see economic growth and the business owners along with our citizens will be able to give back to the city creating an overall higher quality of life.

Paola Velasco

Phone: 832-756-7222
Email: paolaforpasadena@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/paolaforpasadena
Website: www.poplme.co/PaolaforPasadena

 

Why are you running for city council?

First and foremost, I love my city. I grew up mostly in Galena Park, but I did attend Pasadena High School my junior year. I love the convenience of not having to drive into Houston to have any of our needs met. From churches to doctors to even shopping here locally; we truly have everything we could ever need right here in Pasadena. I’m running because I strongly felt that none of the other candidates aligned with my Christian and traditional family values. I’ve always voted for who I believed to be the most conservative and God-fearing candidate on the ballot. As I hold strong to my convictions, I will stand up to be your conservative voice and will defend our values and principles for you and our future generations. My husband and I have put down roots here in Pasadena and have two adult daughters and one school age daughter who we want the very best for. I want them to be proud to live or have lived here for many years to come. I’ve said this before, we can’t control how close we are to Houston, but we can control how much we resemble them. Let's save Pasadena together!

Each council district is comprised of thousands of people who live and work in Pasadena.  What qualifications, job training and/or volunteer experiences prepare you to serve as the representative of your district?

I have 15+ years of accounting experience including some forensic accounting, construction accounting and balancing multimillion dollar budgets. I have a keen eye for detail, and I plan to use these skills to help keep a balanced city budget. I also have a heart for people and when I see a need, I am not shy about reaching out to my network of people to ask for assistance. The night of the tornado, I was at Baker Ripley helping set up cots when I noticed the worried look on the American Red Cross coordinator’s face. She stated they needed a bigger space. So, I immediately called Pastor Artie Cadar and was able to be the connection to open the shelter at Revive Church. I currently work for a worldwide Christian nonprofit organization as a Bilingual Prayer Partner. I get to pray for people all over the world via social media, WhatsApp and email. I have 20+ years of music ministry experience from leading worship at Lakewood Church to serving as part time staff at Iglesia Renovada Sion as Worship Leader and Revive Church as a member of their Worship Team.

What are your top three priorities in serving the city of Pasadena, and one thing you want to advocate for specifically on behalf of your district?

I believe Public Safety, City Infrastructure and Supporting Local Businesses are all of dire importance. I will always support our local law enforcement as well as make myself available for our residents to report any ongoing issues. As our city population continues to grow, we need to hire more police officers.  I can’t express enough how grateful I am to our Police and Fire departments. I understand they selflessly risk their lives day after day for us and also have families to go home to at night. I also want to make sure that our citizens feel safe on the roads and that flooding is not a concern. I commit to being as proactive as possible to avoid these conditions in our district. I’ve also heard many complaints about potholes affecting our area north of Spencer Highway and will work alongside the departments and agencies necessary to have those repaired. And lastly, local businesses are the heart of Pasadena. Business owners in my District need to have a Council Member that will be there to listen to their needs and take action to do what’s best for them as the taxpayers. I will be honored to be their advocate.

Attracting new business and retaining existing businesses is vital to the success of a community.  Business owners and industry partners large and small are faced with daily challenges - regulations, fees, permitting, workforce challenges and access to information and resources. What do you think needs to be done to support and grow existing businesses and to attract new businesses to choose Pasadena?

I believe I answered part of this question in the previous response. Just a couple days ago, I met with a friend and local business owner. As a city, we need to govern with wisdom. We need to listen to the needs of our community and business owners and we should not expect them to have to jump through hoops to get the permits needed for them to conduct their business. My fear is that we fall in this cycle of constant moving of goal posts and that brings much discouragement and hurts the morale of our business owners. I commit to working with them to best support their needs and am grateful for the relationships made through the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce as they have much insight on how to best conduct business here in Pasadena.

Our city is mostly developed, and in order to grow, will have to begin to redevelop.  How would you facilitate redevelopment?  What tools (TIRZ, chapter 380 agreements, municipal bonds, livable community funding, management districts, grants) would you support to assist with redevelopment?

I would support this only if it is approved by the voters. This type of spending should not be decided on without their approval. Component units such as TIRZ or corporate entities created by the city should not be able to issue bond debt without approval from the voters. As mentioned above, I plan to use my 15+ years in accounting to make sure that current funds are allocated as planned and proposed to the voters. Transparency, accountability and integrity are key in this position, and this is necessary to increase voter confidence.

“Pasadena Loves Local” is an initiative focused on supporting local business and encouraging all citizens to choose local to benefit our community. In your opinion, what can be done to improve the quality of life in Pasadena so that it is a great place for people to choose Pasadena to live, work, play and shop?

We need to continue to support and promote local businesses. Pasadena is already an amazing city to be a part of and if we all do our part in supporting each other, we will all contribute to the growth and success of our great city. Let’s save Pasadena together.

 

Ornaldo Ybarra

*Mr. Ybarra was invited to participate in the questionnaire portion of Meet the Candidates, but declined the invitation to participate.