Next year, a new individual will serve Kendall County as a commissioner in the fourth precinct – the precinct generally located in the north portions of the county.
On March 1, residents of that precinct will choose one of three Republicans vying for the seat. The winner will square off against the lone Democrat seeking office in the county – Kevin Henning – in the November general election.
Don Durden, the current Precinct 4 commissioner, decided not to seek another term. The Republicans trying to replace him are Chad Carpenter, Gary Louie and Patty Walsh Martinez.
Carpenter moved to Kendall County in 1988 and built and started Comfort Chiropractic. Two years later, the Boerne location opened.
Louie was a high school teacher for several years before he opened an automobile repair business. For the past 15 years, he has been what he calls a “nonprofit professional.”
Martinez moved to Kendall County in 1998. In 2016, she retired from the San Antonio Police Department after serving for 34 years, mostly as an investigator assigned to the Night Detectives Unit.
The Star asked each candidate the same questions in regard to serving as the Precinct 4 county commissioner. The following are their answers. Any editing was done because of space restrictions.
Q: Why did you decide to seek a spot on the Kendall County Commissioners Court?
• Carpenter: As a constitutional pro-life conservative, I feel like our values and freedoms are being stripped away right before our eyes and our country is at the brink of disaster. The only way to get America back on track is to start from the ground up. This means electing constitutional conservatives at every level of government and place God back where he belongs as the foundation of our country.
• Louie: I have been a small business owner and served as an elected official and appointed community leader in a fast-growing county (Montgomery) in circumstances similar to what Kendall County is now experiencing and will be facing in the future.
With my leadership and community experiences, current Commissioner Don Durden encouraged me to run for the office.
• Martinez: I decided to run for commissioners court because I am concerned about the future of our county and want to be part of shaping it. I also believe the explosion of growth we are experiencing requires a commissioner who is able and willing to treat the position as a full time job.
Q: What are your qualifications?
• Carpenter: I was appointed in 2016 by Judge Darrel Lux after my father-in-Law (Royce Steubing) passed away. I served Kendall County as commissioner Precinct 4 for one year. I was Comfort Chamber of Commerce president, president of the Texas Chiropractic Association, current board member for ChiroCongress. I have personally testified and helped pass numerous legislative bills for healthcare freedom in the Texas Legislature.
I am a servant leader, man of integrity, honest and loyal. I believe the Constitution should be what we use when doing county business.
• Louie: I have served as a multi-term mayor of a small city, as president of an economic development corporation supporting small business and job growth as president of a water and sewer district designed to provide services to an underserved community.
I have held key leadership roles on many community, business and nonprofit organizations dealing directly with development and growth.
• Martinez: First, I am not a politician and since there is no specialized education, training or background necessary to be a county commissioner, the most important qualities are dedication to your community, passion for public service, honesty and the ability to devote the time necessary to hold office, all which I possess.
Q: What are your personal strengths?
• Carpenter: I can problem-solve quickly and make tough decisions. I am bold enough to speak up when I see an injustice, and I am not afraid to speak the truth. I recognize how important our Constitution is and I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect it. I also understand the role of government and I know it’s supposed to reflect “We the people.” I am willing to admit when I make a mistake and take it as a learning experience, and I pray to God for direction in all major decisions.
• Louie: Relationship building. I communicate with all constituency well. When exploring solutions to community challenges, I try to include all critical stakeholders and encourage their comments and input as we work toward sensible solutions.
• Martinez: Common sense, tenacity and having been an investigator, I have the skills of critical thinking, deductive reasoning, social perceptiveness and problem-solving skills. I also possess good communication and interview skills and know that the commissioner is part of a team and answers to and is a representative of the citizens of Precinct 4.
Q: What are the key issues facing Kendall County?
• Carpenter: The shortage of water, uncontrolled development, increased traffic and the safety of Kendall County residents brought on by our unprotected southern border. Our water supply is limited, and our roads are unable to handle the increased traffic, yet we continue to allow more and more development. The safety concern is one brought on by bad policy’s from the White House.
• Louie: Unplanned growth and development, lack of a universally accepted mobility/ roadway plan, sensible water access and usage.
• Martinez: The key issues facing Kendall County are growth, transportation, water and adequate emergency services.
Q: What are the key budget/financial issues facing the county in the next couple/ few years?
• Carpenter: The unstable economy could lead to a revenue shortfall. This makes budgeting tough to get accurate because of unknown variables. As the county grows, so does the cost of each county department.
The real threat is inflation. Everything is more expensive, and this will increase the cost of our road and bridge department the most.
• Louie: To address the broad obligations anticipated for infrastructure and services related to a fast-growing community, the county has to examine and possibly anticipate a capital needs budget, including new revenue sources or diversions from existing projects.
• Martinez: Maintaining the infrastructure and adequate emergency services.
Q: How does the county best handle/accommodate growth?
• Carpenter: As a property rights advocate, the county should create a new development plan categorized into three categories: small, medium and large. As the size of the development grows, the developer should have more requirements because they are creating a larger footprint of change to our county. We need to encourage growth on properties with 3-6 acres and we should do everything we can to stop high density subdivisions in rural areas. Small developments should have the easiest permitting process so individual rights are protected.
• Louie: I believe the county needs to work closely with the cities of Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch to craft a consistent development plan, including possible roadway needs as well as long-range water access.
• Martinez: The county needs to handle further growth by reviewing the subdivision rules and regulations and tightening them where appropriate. Accommodating the current growth will involve examining, prioritizing, planning, and completing a supporting infrastructure that includes not only roads, buildings, and power supplies but also education, safety and wellbeing.
Q: What is the most glar ing weakness the county has at this time, and why do you think that?
• Carpenter: Our most glaring weakness is the limited authority the state of Texas grants a county. The rate of growth is so rapid with limited ways to legally control it. This creates city and county stress because of the increased water usage and traffic.
• Louie: Kendall County lacks a long-range vision, including mobility projects and water access to provide a roadmap for sensible development. Without a thoughtful vision developed by county stakeholders, we run the risk of losing our unique Hill Country atmosphere.
• Martinez: The county’s weakness is inability to manage the growth – at no fault of the county commissioners court. The ability to control growth will require legislative changes.
Q: What are the pressing needs in Precinct 4 and how do you best address them?
• Carpenter: Upper Cibolo Road needs to be rebuilt. Comfort has serious flood problems needing to be addressed. Alamo Springs has EMS and fire department needs in order to protect their residents. Waring Welfare residents get landlocked during heavy rains causing an emergency services response time to be greatly increased.
I would address these concerns by working with the other commissioners and asking for their list of pressing needs. We as a court can prioritize these needs and come up with a plan of attack so we aggressively complete these projects.
• Louie: Outside of the challenges pointed out in the immediately previous questions that impact the entire precinct, there are particular problems unique to individual communities that need to be examined and resolved as appropriate. Some of these include heavy truck traffic concerns on Highway 27 through Comfort, concerns about speeding on rural roadways, expanding law enforcement service in rural areas and improving roadway shoulders for safer driving and longer road life.
Precinct 4 growth concerns, water issues and fiscal responsibility is best addressed by electing a leader who has the vision and experience with these issues to provide pragmatic and sensible solutions to the future of the precinct.
• Martinez: Precinct 4’s pressing needs is the protection of our water resources.
Q: Why should people vote for you?
• Carpenter: I am a true conservative Republican who values our conservative beliefs, and since I have previously served as commissioner, with my experience, I am ready to serve immediately. I have been involved in this community and I am already an active part who has a pulse on what our county wants.
I have raised my family here, started my businesses here and want to protect the values, rights and freedoms we have. I want to leave a legacy for our future generations, and unless we elect real conservatives, our country will not survive. If elected, I will work hard and fight to protect Kendall County.
• Louie: Kendall County needs leadership with vision and experiences to address the complex issues such as mobility, property rights and water availability while protecting our sensitive land features. I have the experience, leadership and commitment to be that person.
• Martinez: Because I have not been a politician, nor do I have a personal agenda. I do not own or am affiliated with any business that could benefit from my position on commissioner’s court. I have the ability to work full time in this position and a deep passion to protect Kendall County, it’s resources, culture, and character.
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