Mike Wallace, Place 3. This was the one council seat that I was unsure about. Claudio Forest…I cannot figure out why he is running. The “want” to serve is not reason alone, and he was totally unprepared to speak about the issues. Mike Wallace & Bob Butler are well spoken, very easy to approach, against drilling, and support economic growth within the limits of our Master Plan and Smart Growth. Bob is against the Morris road expansion (vehemently, which I believe is why he chose to run for a seat). Mike does not have a “one platform” reason to run for council. He has served our community on many committees/commissions and is currently the vice chair of the P & Z commission, and his wife is an alternate on the O & G committee. Wallce is well informed, educated, and motivated. The major difference between Mike & Bob is their position on the expansion of Morris Rd. Wallace is more direct with his answer:
“…after 2499 Section 3 (from 1171 to 407) is complete (scheduled for December 2010). By that time, 1171 Section 1 (from 2499 to Shiloh) will also be complete. Ideally, construction on Morriss/Gerault should begin in the January 2011 time frame. This should give us plenty of time to secure all funding, obtain all citizen input, finalize the design, and select the contractor to begin the construction.”
If you listen closely, the other candidates are in favor but answer that they want more studies, think we can wait to start the expansion b/c we have 10 years to spend the appropriated money, etc…They do the shuffle very well! So with all that said, my vote will go to Mike Wallace.

Steve Lyda, Place 1. Last but not least, Place 1 has two candidates: Steve Lyda and Steve Dixon. As you might remember Dixon ran an unsuccessful bid last year. He is a nice guy, well versed on the issues, but like Cox, he seems a little too friendly with some of the self interest groups and would not come out last year and clearly take a stand against gas drilling. I guess he has learned it is okay to take a stand on issues, has heard us, and is now claiming he has always been against gas drilling. He has taken a campaign donation from Mayor Smith, which makes all of us a little suspicious. In addition, he seems a little too eager to point out that he has ruled against his friends when they have appeared before the commission/committees that he serves on. Steve Lyda, is approachable, intelligent, an engineer and businessman who lives in Wellington. He has the residents’ concerns at the forefront of his platform, and supports our issues. Lyda is a newcomer to the political ring but well versed on what is happening at the town level and in the house and senate r/t the different HB’s.

In closing, all three races will be close. It is wonderful that we have so many people who are willing to serve. My hope is whoever gets elected, that they serve the people and not the developers/self interest groups who only see dollars and not the beautiful community that we live. Also, my hope is that whoever does not get elected will stay involved and serve the town in other ways. I hope you and many others will join us in supporting (and VOTING) for Tom Hayden, Mike Wallace, and Steve Lyda.

Kim Brinkman

I wanted to take a moment to address some of your comments. First of all, your hard work and that of the board are duely acknowledged. Thank you and the others.

First, the Board Briefs are a great start. However, the events of the past year have placed a schism of distrust between many of the members of this community and the Board. The elephant in the room is the gas drilling issue. We saw, heard evedence of many meetings, emails or events in the past that could be deemed disturbing by many residents concerned about gas drilling. In rebuttal to your responses on access to reports, and overall communication with the Board, I think 90% if the tension can be resolved by posting comprehensive Board meeting notes and financials. Candidly, it is not enough to ask people to call up, or drive up and request them. I believe it is incumbent upon the Board to make them easily obtainable. There is no reason these documents shouldn’t be available to all through the website. Of course, individual resident information must be protected. If residents see positions or financials not in keeping with their core values, I am convinced they will come out in numbers and help shape a more balanced outcome.

Secondly, I agree with you wholeheartedly on the issue of supporting and fostering committees. However, since we have seen geometric attendance and interest in our meetings this past year, again, largely because of the gas issue, shouldn’t we have a committee that can work transparently, with members of the Board, to position ourselves and educate our residents? Doesn’t this make more sense than a social committee to start with? I think the lesson here is that I personally, and a large majority of residents have lingering doubts about this Boards ability to handle the gas issue. Let’s broaden the field and form a committe of our very talented community to work this issue. This would pay dividends for us all.

You indicate there is nothing we can do but I sat in a meeting with the attorney in July and heard him say our CC&R’s were weak and could/should be ammended. Have we moved on that? No. Hence the tension and frustration. It is really very simple.

Lastly, and with all due respect, your threat of litigation is unwarranted. If I want what you want and we want what 90+% of Bridlewood wants, why are you talking about litigation? I am not leading a political charge at all. That is nonsense. If as you write that the establishment of a Quality of Life Committee in Bridlewood is acceptable, why can’t we have a committe working, educating, lobbying, positioning, voting, meeting, advocating for issues that impact QOL like drilling? Please. Let me be clear, one person coming to the Board will not bring about monumental change. However, there are some very simple and tangible steps that we can do to promote transparency and build good will.

Respectfully,

Jim Cafferty

JC

Given what I have read and heard, on this site, others, and in public meetings, I cannot square the circle. I think you are in the same place. How many weeks have passed and still no survey from our HOA. This is either laziness, incompetence or something else. Why the delays? Why the reversals, why the opposition? What is the motivation to stall and fight the will of the majority of the home owners (at least at the meeting and by proxy)? Why change the rules on a very important vote that people feel very passionate about? Why not follow Robert’s Rule of Order at the meeting? It does not make sense. Intellectual honesty makes one very curious.

I have stated this before, some young clerk at the Texas RR Commission will soon come in to work and find a petition to drill out here. That will put in motion a series of events that will really put us behind the power curve.

JC

I believe we are all opposed to the drilling as well as the Bridlewood HOA. It is hard for me to believe that any, if not all, residents in our neighborhood could care less about any money received from an oil & gas company. It is such a small amount that it really should not even be brought up for discussion.

Just a question for you.

Do you believe the Bridlewood HOA is corrupt?

This is not a trick question. I just want your opinion.