I've been "on point" for Horseshoe Bay ever since I moved here in 1997.   In one capacity or another, I've gotten involved in civic organizations and kept my eyes and ears open to watch for the signs of uncontrolled, unmanaged growth that would signify an impact on the quality of life that was the basis for everyone of us to locate here.  When those signs began to emerge I organized and founded the Hill Country Economic Development Council to encourage "smart growth" in Burnet & Llano counties.  From that regional perspective I was in a position to see the trends and in 2003 I began advocating the incorporation of Horseshoe Bay.  In 2004 I encouraged the POA to give incorporation a higher priority than they were.  This year, I believed our window of opportunity was closing and I forced the question of incorporation to the forefront.

Once the debate on incorporation got underway, I spent countless hours publishing information related to incorporation that I believed was essential for people to make an intelligent and informed decision.  It is my belief that a large number of people relied on that information in arriving at their decision.  Given that assumption I feel a sense of responsibility to insure that our decision to incorporate, for the reasons I espoused, was the correct thing to do.  That includes the need to defend against over zealous attempts to use the foundation of incorporation to pursue a personal agenda, or the agenda of a minority, which is inconsistent with what the majority believed were the right reasons for incorporating.

When I was considering running for Mayor, I spent several weeks meeting with the various principals related to the "Legs of the Table" as I described in my "Talking Points" memo published during the incorporation debate.  My discussions with Doug Jaffe (the "Amenities Owner"), Wayne Hurd (The "Declarant"), Mike Walsh (Developer of "The Trails of Lake LBJ"), Michael Thuss (General Manager of Lake LBJ MUD), Wayne Brascome (County Commissioner Precinct #1) and R.G. Floyd (Llano County Judge), have been in the capacity of a private citizen and as a candidate for Mayor.  At no time did I misrepresent myself as having any standing in the community, or make any commitments as to what I could or would do if elected Mayor.

In regard to my conversations with Doug Jaffe and Wayne Hurd, I focused on the possibilities for migrating some of their "landlord" responsibilities, to the city.  What I argued was that they would potentially be better off as "clients" and letting the city be the landlord.  The time, energy and money associated with being the landlord is a burden that detracts from their core businesses, which is to either sell lots or operate a convention and recreation business.  We discussed their position on the disposition of the roads, particularly in light of Doug's statements during the incorporation debates that he would not convey the roads to the city.  We discussed the subsidy that the Resort receives from the maintenance assessments, which is an irritant for many property owners.  We discussed the current and some of the proposed developments.  We discussed what I believe are some of the benefits that the city would be in a position to bring to the table to help them in their operations.   Knowing where Doug and Wayne stand in relation to those areas of opportunity was essential to the formulation of a PLAN.

With respect to the absolute priority of absorbing the operations of the Lake LBJ MUD, it was important for me to understand what the position of Mike Walsh and the property owners in The Trails of Lake LBJ is.  Without their cooperation in a voluntary annexation of that section into the city, the alternative of excluding (disannexing) them from the Lake LBJ MUD, can be challenged by them through a legal appeals process clearly defined in the Texas Statutes.  Should they be unwilling to join the city, our ambition to absorb the Lake LBJ MUD operations could potentially be a very protracted process.  It was also necessary to visit with Mike Thuss to have an understanding as to the position of the Lake LBJ MUD in relation to their absorption by the city.  The answers to those inquiries was essential to the formulation of a PLAN.

My conversations with Wayne Brascome and R.G. Floyd centered around the obligations and services, currently being performed by Llano County, that Horseshoe Bay will have to assume and when.  Understanding that was also essential to the formulation of a PLAN.

All of those discussions, in my opinion, were crucial to my understanding of what I might be able to deliver if elected.  If I did not believe it would be possible to achieve what the voters for incorporation expressed as their goals for incorporation, primarily having more of a voice in the future development of Horseshoe Bay, I would have never entered the race for Mayor.

Based on my knowledge of municipal organization and operational requirements, through months and months of research on that specific subject, combined with my prior knowledge of Texas Real Estate Law, gained through advanced studies associated with becoming licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission, my experience on a regional level with Economic Development Strategic Planning, and that series of discussions with the various principals, I was able to derive a PLAN that I believe is achievable during my term as Mayor.

Without a PLAN, how can anyone stand for election, particularly as Mayor?

You need to know what can realistically be accomplished by your city government, and what cannot or should not.  You need to know where the candidates stand on all of the issues that are of concern to you.  Not everyone has the same concerns, and certainly, not everybody will agree with a candidate's position on all of the issues.  But, you should know where each of us stand.

Promises have been made by some candidates, which are unrealistic and not achievable through ordinance making authority as they have suggested.  I've also heard promises related to expenditures of certain special purpose taxes that are also ill-informed.   It has always been my practice to study an issue, explore what can or can't be done before arriving at a conclusion about what I can deliver.  I could not in good conscience ask you to vote for me based on false expectations or the simple premise that I will learn the job and work hard after you elect me.  

In reaching my decision to become a candidate for Mayor, I must admit that I was also inspired by a desire to carry on the legacy of my father, Dave Martin, who led the early development of the Lake LBJ MUD for eleven years.  If elected, I will be personally driven to add value to the first-class organization he helped build as it is absorbed into and becomes the foundation of our Village. 

I'm running for Mayor because:

• I believe I am the best prepared;
• I believe I am the most knowledgeable in the areas of specialization required for the position;
• I have a proven track record of leadership in organization building and strategic planning;
• I have a good relationship with all of the principals;
• I have  a good working relationships with officials in all of the surrounding jurisdictions;
• I have a personal sensitivity to the history of Horseshoe Bay, and;
• I have a clear vision of what I can deliver, which is consistent with what I believe the majority wanted incorporation to be, nothing more and nothing less. (See my Village Plan)