When Missouri City’s District B Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton-Gary decided to run for mayor against 16-year incumbent Allen Owen, she knew that due to city ordinance she would have to resign her seat by the election on May 8.
If she wins the election, she will be mayor. If she loses, she will be off council completely. Either way, council will appoint a replacement for her seat until the 2011 election.
Lenton-Gary said she is taking that chance because she feels her voice is ignored and her only chance to make a difference is to be in the top seat.
“I was willing to take that chance simply because as a member of council I realized that my voice is ignored, and that’s the truth,” said Lenton-Gary. “If I sit there in that district seat, they were not going to allow anything I wanted to be done in my district. I was doing a disservice to the people.”
Lenton-Gary said she believes she will have a stronger voice if elected as mayor, because “a lot of decisions are in his hands.”
”He (Mayor Allen Owen) is not going to let me have any positive impact in my district where I am, and it’s just a sacrifice I was just willing to make,” said Lenton-Gary. “If I am going to serve the citizens of Missouri City at an optimal level, and give them the best quality service I can give them as a servant, I have to be in the top seat.”
Since being elected as mayor in 1994, Owen has only been opposed twice, both times by the same person. Greyling Poats ran and lost against Owen in the 2006 and 2008 elections.
Lenton-Gary said she feels strongly about her chances at unseating Owen.
“I have a 50/50 chance of winning and he has a 50/50 chance of winning,” said Lenton-Gary. “Either one of us could win or lose, but I am going to run the best race I can. I will never say anything negative about Allen because I have supported him in the past. I am not running against Allen, I am running for the people.”
Lenton-Gary said that should she become mayor, she will focus on transparency in government and the revitalization of the city.
“I want our city to be more aggressive when it comes to economic growth and development,” she said. “I also believe that Missouri City could be the greatest city in what I call the ‘quadruplex” – Sugar Land, Stafford, Pearland and Missouri City. (Missouri City) has the potential of being a very unique city in itself. I don’t feel it has to be a mirror of Sugar Land or Pearland. I believe we could be a better Missouri City.”
Lenton-Gary said the average age of a Missouri City resident is 34, and want to raise their families in a city that is first in many areas.
“I just believe in the best quality of life a person can have, and I want to make sure the citizens of Missouri City have that,” she said.
She also said the city needs to focus on fiscal accountability and transparency.
“City government needs to make sure taxpayers know where every dollar of their money is being spent,” she said. “I feel we need to make sure we are more cognizant of how the city money is spent so we won’t have to be so quick to increase our taxes, and if we focus more on economic development, we won’t have to depend so much on our property tax. We need to make sure we can find a way to increase our sales tax.”
She said she believes that the city spends too much time doing studies, which she said gives the impression that council doesn’t know which direction they are taking the city.
She also said she hears residents saying they believe the council is “saying one thing and really doing something else.”
“It’s not clear information in my opinion on what direction the city is going when on every issue you have to have a study instead of creating a plan and following through with the plan” she said.
Lenton-Gary believes that public safety is a top priority for the city, and supported dropping the Homestead Exemption from the May 8 ballot, but wants to revisit the exemption in the near future.
“I strongly agree that public safety has to be primary because if we lack public safety, then crime goes up and if crime goes up our property values decrease,” she said. “In addition to that, I am very interested in reviewing the possibility of having a Homestead Exemption. I do realize that in this economy, it is very important if you can save a dollar in any area of your budget. Nowadays it is very significant. I think Homestead Exemption is something the city needs to look at at a later date – I think right now to have more officers on the street was a top priority.”
She supported the city’s purchase of the Quail Valley golf course, because she said property values were sure to decrease if the city didn’t do anything. But now, she said, the city needs to focus on paying attention to where money is spent and making sure that other areas are not neglected because of the golf course.
Lenton-Gary said that maintaining property values and revitalization of certain areas are also priorities.
“It’s really important for Missouri City to connect is every area,” she said. “I want every citizen to be proud of the city and not just the subdivision in which they live.”
As mayor, Lenton-Gary said she would focus on establishing a strong relationship with City Manager Frank Simpson to help make the city more “progressive.”
“I think the mayor and city manager need to work together to move Missouri City forward,” she said. “I think our manager has some good ideas, we just have to allow him to do it. This is a city for the people; it’s not a city for the council. The council and mayor are there to serve the people, the people are not here to serve us, and I think that’s the attitude council will have to have.”
Go Gary! It was great to meet you at the Easter Egg event this past weekend. Looks like you’ve done a great deal of good for the city and sounds like you have a plan as mayor. I especially liked the way you voted against the mayors tax increases over the years you’ve been on council.
I’m with you precinct chair. Gary will make a fine mayor and someone the voters can call if needed.
I found this link for the challenger
http://cynthiaforcitycouncil.blogspot.com/
and this one for two other candidates running in these city races
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-maroulis/a/a74/199
http://kdtunstall.com/
Here are the ones I found for the BOT race
http://babb4fbisd.wordpress.com/
http://friendsofalumbaugh.blogspot.com/
That’s all I could find for now. I will keep looking though.
Thank you for posting the school board links.
No problem. It is my duty as a taxpayer and citizen of this great state to do what I can for my neighbors. I’m also a Big Nina Schaefer supporter, so get out April 5-9th for early voting in that race and April 13th for the run-off election. Remember She is endorsed by several of the local papers, law enforcement agencies and former candidate Richard Raymond. Between the two of them they garnered 53% of the vote, a majority against the incumbent. This is great news. The first time ever that the incumbent was forced into a run-off race. Maybe now they can stop the “pay to play” system that runs this county via Houston special interest.
Anything is possible but you have to get out and vote and believe each of us can make a difference!
Way to go Cynthia – I know many precinct chairs that will support you. Thanks so much for the breath of fresh air, it feels like a burst of sun (much like our city’s logo) after a long rain – drip-drip-drip.
Someone once told me that it is important to change their babies diapers and their politicians often. They tend to get rank over time.
When I read this precinct chair it was like another ray of hope for the city. I’m very excited about this and have volunteered already. We are calling old friends and neighbors, it is great news for a good lady who won her seat in a landslide in 2007. Funny the current administration is already discussing ways to put it back in the hands of the candidate she defeated.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Tony Maroulis and his family. Good people and he has had service on the parks board. He seems to understand the challenges the city and its residents are facing. A good man for this job!
I like the point she makes about getting our in front and leading. More should be willing to do so. It’s about time and finally someone who is willing to take the chance even if it means losing their current seat. That is very commendable given the state of the MC budget.
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/03/16/44574
FtBendConservative, I don’t begrudge Ms. Lenton-Gary for running. She has the right to run…and I have met and briefly chatted with Ms. Lenton-Gary a few times myself and she was very personable and friendly towards me. I simply stand behind Mayor Owen as I feel he is much more experienced in addition to all his other great qualifications.
Good points truth seeker. When we have leaders that believe they own the seats and nothing else matters, then they have lost sight of “public service”. I will be supporting all none machine candidates this cycle. Someone once told me we should just fire the incumbents and in many cases that is pretty good advice, especially after 25 years.
Way to go Gary. Sometimes the bigger picture is truly worth fighting for. I can see that the community means more to you than just a seat. We need more individuals with courage to stand up for the rights of the people.
Yes, residents of Missouri City have the same rights for safety to walk on salf public city sidewalks, after Missouri City starts plannings to construct them for the public use!
Sen. Hutchison countinued tobe the Texas Senator by refusing to resign, then Mrs C. Gary should refuse to resign, also? her council seat?
CANDIDATE Rights; Mrs Gary has the same rights just as Sen. Kay B. Hutchison held on to her seat, also after the Sen. Hutchison lost the 2010 GOP primary race against Gon. Perry ? Win, Win for both of her?
This city belongs to the people. Let us restore integrity. Cynthia Lenton Gary for Mayor. I will volunteer.
It is quite impressive to see Gary take on the big machine. They have tried to attack her as a woman and a servant of the community. I am glad to see she is staying the course.
Vote Cynthis Lenton Gary for mayor!
This looks like fun
http://www.slide.com/r/dPwVVOz37T-T9bWP9thMFMhjigQAlSB9?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
right again Mary and one has to question Gary’s judgement, resigning her seat to run against an immensely popular Mayor when dems are facing a backlash across America. What is she thinking?
I just saw an ad with the same democratic endorsements behind your mayor Owen. Is he a democrat fbc?
“No matter how many anonymous attacks may be hurled at Owen via forums…I believe voters are savvy enough to question anonymous attacks…Especially in that when you have the truth on your side, there is never any reason to hide.
I’m volunteering to urge voters to vote for Nguyen, Owen, and Wyatt with pride, and feel no need to hide behind a pseudonym.”
Pardon my quotes around my own words…typo.
Ms. McClure, thanks for Volunteering the slate of Nyugen, Owen and Wyatt. What this will mean for our City is more taxes and less amenities! What this means a continued focus on QV and No representation for those who live outside of QV. I like Nyugen because he will bring business growth outside of QV.(I hope) I like Owen but he has QV syndrome and needs to get more involved with other communities. BUT I must ask Wy – Wyatt? What has he done for us latley? He continues to support tax increases, he serves on several committees and yet I just don’t feel his impact. If you watch him in meetings he acts as if he is the Mayorand pushes people around. Anyway, thanks for your input. Owen and Nyugen are good picks but I am Voting for the new guy.
I guess mores your post is just a tad confusing. First you say, “thanks for Volunteering the slate of Nyugen, Owen and Wyatt. What this will mean for our City is more taxes and less amenities!” but then you say you are supporting Nyugen and Owen. I guess I would like clarification because from what I’ve read and seen locally Wyatt-Owen & Nyugen is running as a slate heavily backed by a certain faction of the local democratic party, which in and of itself is confusing since Ruben Davis (D) is apparently strongly backing these three supposed republicans? Nyugen additionally has no experience and I’ve heard him speak. He really doesn’t know very much about city government but does do business with the city as a developer. Please make your position clear because it really isn’t. All I see is a bunch of Houston Democrats with vested interest in the city and where its taxes are going teaming up with another clique of Houston developers to maintain control of the city and out of the hands of its voting residents. How is that going to control taxes and spending with a budget crisis looming under the current mayor?
Again MR, I’m just seeking clarification.
I was recently cc’d a letter that went to the mayor and council from a voter that questioned a conflict between the city charter and a city ordinance on this very issue. According to the letter it looks like this newer ordinance can be challenged because of this potential conflict with the city charter.
It’s pretty refreshing to see someone who is willing to honestly depict the situation on the MoCity Council. With the Mayor completely controlling the Council’s agenda, the individual Council Members aren’t even able to represent their constituents because items important to the residents can’t be brought up or even acted upon. That’s why parks projects are never brought to completion, Public Safety is an afterthought right before the election, and all of the Council’s energy is focused on the Golf Course. Gary promises to change these factors and she will. She’s educated, motivated, and capable.
I wonder why the mayor and city voted in an ordinance to keep other council members from running for other positions on council, say like against the mayor? Not very democratic now is that? Maybe term limits would help bring in more willing to serve and get involved like professor Gary.
Perhaps that is the one of the greatest concerns I have about the current set-up. It seems totally geared to suppress voter participation and active community involvement.
“I think our manager has some good ideas, we just have to allow him to do it. This is a city for the people; it’s not a city for the council. The council and mayor are there to serve the people, the people are not here to serve us, and I think that’s the attitude council will have to have.”
It is key that the city council and it’s staff remember who is footing the bills and paying for the projects. With budget problems becoming evident in the press recently, now more than ever we need fresh ideas. Good luck Ms. Gary and all candidates seeking to serve and have a positive impact!