Candidate Q&A – Marc McKinney – Kyle City Council District 5

Marc McKinney

How can voters contact you?

• Campaign Email [email protected]
• Campaign Website MarcforKyle.com
• Facebook Marc McKinney for Kyle
• Phone  254-230-2290

In a few sentences, tell us about your background. Include in your answer information about your education, employment, and leadership experience relevant to this position.

I studied Business, Biology, and Psychology at Stephen F Austin State University.  Most of my career has been in finance, successfully managing consumer finance departments, securing funding for those in need.  I've been an active member of the community, at both the government and the charitable levels. I've attended almost every council meeting over the last three years to stay knowledgeable about what is happening in our city.

For the next questions, please limit your responses to 100 words each

Describe your community involvement in Kyle

In addition to everything I've done with local government, I've accepted a leadership position in our local Lions Club, and I encourage everyone to see what we're doing in the community.  I've also hosted, for seven years now, an annual toy drive around Christmas time, collecting hundreds of toys for a variety of nonprofits.

There has been a lot of discussion about council members’ use of city credit cards, how to define city business for which they can be reimbursed and the amount of pay council members receive. How would you address these issues?

The cards, and their use, needs to be done away with.  The interpretation of what constitutes "city business" has been so broad that allegations of misuse have run rampant.  The compensation committee never intended for them to be utilized this way.  While they have added a layer of accountability, they've been proven to be too easily taken advantage of.

How would you describe the progress to date on the 2022 Kyle road bond? What’s your favorite aspect of these improvements? Do you see any areas where corrections are needed?

One of the most frustrating things about government is how slow the wheels seem to turn, at times. While it feels like the '22 road bond is going slow, it appears to be still right on track. Right of Way acquisition is on pace, and hopefully we will be breaking ground soon. I'm optimistic about how traffic, particularly on the east side, will be alleviated. While I feel it's still way too early to identify areas of correction, I will say that I've been a vocal proponent of building up CR158 on the east side.  Giving another east-west corridor, and taking half the traffic off of CR150, would go a long way towards improving quality of life for those on the east. I wish that had been given consideration in the bond then, and in this year's county bond.

With the adoption of the 2025 city budget, how well do you think your priorities and those of your constituents are being addressed?

I think the 24-25 city budget does a fair job of addressing our needs.  One of the most difficult aspects of being a council member is addressing infinite needs with finite resources, and then allocating those resources in the most efficient ways possible to do the most amount of good. Of the slightly more than $363 million budget, almost a third is going to water infrastructure projects, a quarter to public safety, and a tenth towards parks improvement.  I would like to see a broader roads maintenance budget, but we are currently limited by how much our staff can do in one year.

How will you ensure that the underserved areas and population of Kyle, including the east side and its residents, will get the services they need?  

I will continue to push for more and better infrastructure, and retail for the east side. Something as simple as an east side grocer, preferably near 21, would have a profound impact. Doing what we can to slow residential development until infrastructure and resources can catch up, has to happen. Responsible growth is key. Responsible growth means providing opportunity, while not squeezing out our most vulnerable citizens.

With all the construction and development going on, how will you ensure an adequate water supply for existing and new residents?

The ARWA water line, now scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2025, will exceed our current demand for water. It was supposed to be done by February of this year, but Right of Way acquisition has delayed it. While ARWA solves our needs for now; I believe that tapping into state funding from last year's Prop 6 Water Fund, and construction of a recycling facility that can produce potable water, will solve our water issues for generations to come. I want to push towards sustainability and independence.

What will you do to promote housing that first-time buyers and older residents can afford?

Affordability has been a rapidly growing issue in our area, and I'm open to hearing all ideas on how to battle it. I feel that we need programs and processes that will protect all of our most vulnerable neighbors.  The last thing I want to see is people being displaced over issues of affordability. Property tax relief for seniors, and minimizing surprise fees and taxes on homeowners is an important first step.