Incumbents McAlister, Craver file on first day for Abilene City Council races
Place 5 incumbent Kyle McAlister filed for another term on the Abilene City Council Wednesday afternoon, the first official day to file for the May 7 election.
Just before 5 p.m., Place 6 incumbent Travis Craver filed for another term.
The filing period runs through Feb. 18.
McAlister: 'Fluid times'
Asked about his goals moving forward if elected, McAlister said that while many were hoping 2022 would be a “post-pandemic year,” that hasn’t been the case, he said.
“I want to work to tackle how we continue to work through the ups and downs of COVID-19,” he said. “How do we make sure that our employees and citizens are protected? How we continue to ensure that we've got essential services covered, and how do we make sure to plan our funding needs in very fluid economic times?”
Other goals, he said, include getting “ahead of the curve" on street repairs and building infrastructure for people moving here to help fill jobs being created.
A Master Plan for parks is another important item the council will need to examine, he said.
“I'm a big fan of looking at flat fields/soccer fields for our area,” he said.
He also wants to examine the possibility of adding another fire station in the Wylie area, with perhaps an additional location Lake Fort Phantom.
His other goals include examining needs for new recreation centers and a new animal shelter, along with the common task of trying to keep taxes low.
Craver: Seeking growth
Craver, 39, in an earlier interview with the Reporter-News, said he had learned much from his first term on the council, including the value of planning, while also trying to anticipate "all possible and probable outcomes."
Craver said he'd "grown in my grasp of the legal and financial responsibilities of the city and the value of good, continued communication with residents — and being a good listener."
Asked Wednesday his goals for another term, he listed the following:
► Continuously seeking economic development policies that produce growth.
► Developing and retaining companies that provide better paying jobs and, in turn, help retain and attract a talented workforce.
► Solidifying the vision for street plans and maintenance.
► Fully staffing fire, police and public safety departments.
How to file
Those who wish to file for either place may do so through the city secretary's office at Abilene City Hall, 555 Walnut St.
Online materials are available at www.abilenetx.gov/309/Elections.
Council members are elected at-large, but residency requirements are imposed.
Place 5 candidates must live north of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company main line, while Place 6 must live south.
Among other qualifications, candidates must be 21 years of age, be a resident of Texas and the city, be a qualified voter and must have resided within the city for at least one year preceding election day.
Brian Bethel covers city and county government and general news for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: McAlister, Craver file for upcoming council elections
