Two people who once sat side by side on the Plano City Council took questions from voters Wednesday night as rivals for a Collin County Commissioners Court seat.
Julie Holmer, a Democrat and small business owner, and Shelby Williams, a Republican business consultant and former chair of the county GOP, appeared at a forum hosted by the Plano Chamber of Commerce on Independence Parkway, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Both left the City Council last year to run for the Precinct 4 seat, which covers the southwest part of the county, including parts of Plano and Allen. Commissioner Duncan Webb is not seeking reelection.
Growth and infrastructure
The two described similar worries about how fast the county is growing. Williams said the court cannot solve water, energy and countywide road problems on its own, but can make progress "by leveraging the proper relationships and getting the right people to the table."
He also said leaders should look for the most efficient use of tax money rather than simply the lowest spending, adding that "responsible government entails a certain level of overhead."
Holmer said county buildings, including the courthouse and the elections and records offices, are "busting at the seams," and that the county needs to secure land for future roads. On transportation, she said she would look for regional answers to problems like heavy traffic and poor access in rural areas.
"We need to also be looking at what is best for the whole region, not just Collin County," she said.
Both candidates said they supported reevaluating Plano's membership in Dallas Area Rapid Transit, according to the newspaper.
