Albert Gonzales and other residents listen to area candidates outline their platforms at Thursday’s candidate forum at the International Buffet Restaurant. The forum was hosted by the One Spirit Exchange Club.
By Anthony Scott
Killeen Daily Herald
Candidates campaigned face to face Thursday night at One Spirit Exchange Club’s candidate forum.
The group gathered at the International Buffet Restaurant.
About 20 people attended the forum as candidates running for the Harker Heights council, Killeen council and the Killeen Independent School District board of trustees made their cases as to why those attending should vote for them.
Killeen ISD
First to speak was KISD school board candidate Susan Jones, running for Place 2. Jones said she wanted to maintain and improve upon excellence, is fiscally minded and wants to keep schools safe.
“I promise to be a good stewardess of tax dollars,” she said.
T.J. Carson, also running for Place 2, spoke next. “I don’t think there’s any greater reason for me being there than making sure my kids, and your kids, receive a quality education,” he said.
Carson said it is important to make sure the special education program meets state requirements and that schools are safe.
Running for Place 4, Brockley Moore said he’d like to protect the fundamentals of education: math, science, reading and writing.
“I’m a doer, and I’m a team player,” he said.
Incumbent Kenneth Ray, Place 2 trustee, who is running for Place 4, did not attend the forum.
Killeen council
Terry Clark tried to convince those attending to elect him the next District 3 councilman.
Clark said now that his child is older, it is time for him to give back to the community.
“Working in education, I believe in preparing,” he said. “It’s important for council members to be prepared. They’re given that agenda and plenty of time to prepare for those meetings.”
Clark said he’d dedicate time to studying the meeting agendas and that it was important to respect and preserve Killeen’s quality of life. He said he would also work on getting more railroad infrastructure for economic growth.
District 3 candidate Harold Butchart said it was important to take the political process out of the dark and put it in the light.
“We’re not cockroaches here,” Butchart said. “Secrecy in government is the best way to destroy a government.”
Butchart said Killeen needed to update its charter, enact a competitively paid council for its size as a city and recommended improving public safety.
District 3 incumbent JoAnn Purser did not attend.