City Council D3 Candidate Q&A

At NLPG’s City Council D3 Candidate Forum in March, we heard from Karen DeVinney, Suzi Rumohr, Margie Ellis, and Kelly Smith (no longer running for the position). In addition to the moderated Q&A at the meeting, we asked our candidates a few other questions.

Click each question to below to see how our candidates for City Council D3 responded.

Q1: Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, yet many struggle with rising costs, zoning restrictions, and bureaucratic hurdles. What policies or initiatives will you champion to help small businesses thrive and make it easier for local entrepreneurs to succeed?

Q2: How will you attract businesses and jobs to District 3 without contributing to overdevelopment or gentrification?

Q3: What is your stance on the current funding and resource allocation for police, fire, and emergency services in Denton? Are there any reforms you believe are necessary?

Q4: How will you ensure Denton meets its sustainability goals, including clean energy initiatives and water conservation? What role should the city play in addressing climate change?

Q5: How can we make sure housing is affordable for residents? Both for renters and homeowners?

Q6: What is your plan to protect residents from flooding and excessive heat, which researchers say is an increasing risk for Denton?

Q7: What is your plan for DME's monopoly and price gouging?

Q8: Our city has made strides in expanding public spaces, but many neighborhoods still lack safe, walkable connections to parks, businesses, and community hubs. What are your specific plans to improve walkability, bikeability, and public transit access to better connect our neighborhoods?

Q9: Other cities have successfully transformed urban spaces with bold initiatives like pedestrian-only streets, protected bike lanes, and green corridors. If elected, would you be willing to take ambitious steps to reshape our city’s infrastructure, and what is one transformative idea you would push for?

Q10: What is your position on The 1877 Journey Community Forever Village that is in the process of being proposed on Barthold Rd/FM 1173? What key elements does the site on Barthold Rd/FM 1173 have that make it ideal for successfully starting and maintaining a community of this type? What would you say to the surrounding neighbors and neighborhoods who have been ignored by the non-profit and who do not want this development near their homes, schools, and businesses?