City Council Candidates (Ballot Order): Rebecca Howerton, Linda Howard, Bob "Bobby Mack" McClung, Ron Houston, Louann Hayes, and Christina "Tina" M. Gourley. This is an at-large election; the three candidates with the most votes win the council seats. Early voting beings April 28 and runs through May 6 at Blanco City Hall, 8AM-5PM (7AM-7PM on April 29 and May 1). The general election will be held May 10 at the Blanco Elementary Cafe.

School Board, Place 1 (Alphabetical Order): Ann Adkins-Broyles, Mary Ann Weaver (incumbent). School Board, Place 2: Troy Immel (incumbent). Early voting begins April 28 and runs through May 7 at the Blanco ISD Administration building on 11th Street, 8AM-3:30PM. The general election will be held May 10 at Blanco Elementary Cafe.

Rebecca Howerton

As a member of the Blanco City Council for the past 10 years, I have been able to be a part of the building of the new bridge on 4th Street, the pipeline from Canyon Lake, the expansion of the City Limits through annexation, the development of the Planning & Zoning group, the Comprehensive Master Plan, the passing of the Certified Local Government (CLG), the organization of the Visionaries in Preservation, and the revision of the Blanco Historical Preservation Commission Ordinance, additions to meet the needs of the Blanco citizenry. Finally, I have made great strides in the environmental clean up of Blanco with the aid of Keep Blanco Beautiful, the utilities department, various community services workers, and police enforcement.

I want to see accountability in all departments, ordinance 332 strictly enforced and adhered to by the police department and citizens, Blanco Historical Cemetery under the care of Friends of the Cemetery along with a county maintenance crew, grandfather all properties in impossible situations (i.e., a street going through your house or business), businesses encouraged with jobs for single parents, completion of downtown beautification, and lighting for the downtown area for safety and beauty.

I spent 44 years teaching in public and parochial schools. I'm also a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association. For 10 years, I've been a City of Blanco councilwoman, and for 12 years I was chair on the Blanco Historical Preservation Commission. I've been President of the Women's Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #3932 for 4 years, Vice President of the Twin Sisters Sons of Hermann for 2 years, and am currently President of the Sons of Hermann.

I thank all the voters for considering my name again for the Blanco City Council. Please come out and vote!

Linda Howard

Blanco is a unique city with a very colorful rich heritage. The small country town’s growth rate can not be denied. Our city is currently facing utility overloads with the sewage plant and many of the water pipes are needing to be replaced. Our city streets are showing the lack of maintenance with many pot holes and torn up streets which need paving. These are only a few of the present day problems which are and will be addressed. Planning and management of the future growth is essential. Blanco has a Comprehensive Master Plan to assist in dealing with growth. I plan to use this as a guide in decision making for your city. We need to grow economically with more businesses and visitors but manage wisely so we don’t lose our country charm. Growth means more illegal activities so better enforcement of laws and officers trained to meet this demand which is 24 hours a day. More people, more trash so a recycled materials expansion needs to happen to save our landfill areas and our planet but especially our home town. I like our green city with beautiful trees, flowers, native grasses but we need more parks and hike/bike trails, so everyone can enjoy Blanco. I plan to be more responsive and interactive with your ideas for Blanco. I believe everyone has an idea of what they want for Blanco. I am retired and only work part time so I am available to listen to your ideas. I retired with 28 plus years working for the Internal Revenue Service. I owned an antique business for several years and have held various other positions with private companies. I want to deal with the problems of the present, plan for the future to provide a cleaner, greener, healthier and safer Blanco for our future.

Todd Ehlers

Todd Ehlers will not be a resident of the City of Blanco at the time of the election.

Bob “Bobby Mack” McClung

Born in Ft. Worth Texas 1954. Attended The University of Texas at Austin. Blanco County resident since 1990. Married with two children, both recent graduates of Blanco High School. Founded Momentum Online in 1996. Currently Executive in charge of ISP operations for ERF Wireless, Inc.

Named Texas Music Ambassador to the World by the Texas Senate in 1985. Named Four Star Admiral in the Texas Navy by Governor Mark White.

Blanco, with its unique geographic position, is already experiencing the pressures of growth from Austin and San Antonio. As a member of the City Council I have been committed to maintaining Blanco’s rural character and the sense of community inherent in our citizens. I am proud of the steps we have taken to bring controlled growth to Blanco. I am also dedicated to bringing healthy activities to the youth in our community through more recreational, cultural, and sports facilities.

Ron Houston

My wife, Sheryl, and I moved from San Antonio to Blanco in 1981 after visiting the State Park here several times...and we’ve never regretted it.

At that time, I was working in radio as a DJ, and commuted for several years. I now free-lance, narration and commercial voice-overs, which leaves me plenty of time for Blanco involvement.

Over the years, I have been a volunteer with he Blanco Fire Department and EMS, a Chamber of Commerce Director, Blanco Lions Club, Friends of the Library, and Blanco Humane Society. I attend Blanco United Methodist Church.

I was first elected to Blanco City Council in 2000 and reelected for three other terms. I have only missed one Council meeting since being elected. I’m proud to have been chosen Mayor Pro-Tem for six years by my fellow Council members. The Mayor Pro-tem is responsible to act in official city affairs in the absence of the Mayor and to act as a city representative at functions. I also act as a liaison with the Police Department, as selected by Chief Ed Sonier.

Over the past year, I have taken part in workshops by Texas Department of Transportation, LCRA, and PEC. I now serve on a committee made up of Council, Planning and Zoning, the Chamber of Commerce and VIP, also a Blanco County Economic Development Committee chaired by County Judge Bill Guthrie.

The city has just been awarded a $10,000 TxDOT Safe Routes to School Program grant which Martha Gosnell and I successfully applied for earlier in the year - it’s for non-infrastructure planning and development. We’ll apply later for a grant to build safe sidewalks to school for Kindergarten through 8th grades. Then Blanco children can safely bike and walk to school.

So, being a City Council member is a lot more than a once a month meeting.

Consider early voting in case you may be out of town on May 10. Vote early starting April 28 at City Hall.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to meeting the needs and concerns of our community in the future.

Louann Hayes

Louann Lipke Hayes, age 55. 1996-1998: Blanco City Council Member. 1998-2003: Mayor, City of Blanco. 1994-2002: Blanco United Methodist Church Secretary. 2002-Present: Edward Jones Investments.

I moved to Blanco in 1992 after my husband passed away. I knew that this was where I wanted to raise my only child, Lacey. With the love and support of my sister and brother-in-law and my Church family, Lacey had the best upbringing a mother can give her child. Wanting to give back to this community, I became an EMT Volunteer Ambulance Corp. in 1993 and was active until I became Mayor of Blanco in 1998. I also organized the Annual Toys for Tots program in 1996. The monetary donations collected from Blanco community businesses and residents have enabled former Assistant Police Chief Doug Bledsoe, myself and many volunteers the ability to provide Blanco area families with Christmas gifts for their children for the past twelve years.

I feel that my previous and present obligations qualify me as a great candidate for Blanco City Council member.

Christina “Tina” M. Gourley

I am a sixteen-year Blanco resident, married to Blanco-born Tom Gourley.

I am an internal auditor for the State of Texas, where I have nineteen years of State service. My experiences have equipped me to be an effective councilmember in city government. Following are some examples of the skills and experiences I will bring with me to the council:

As an internal auditor, I have examined the policies and procedures of divisions within the agency and compared those to the actual processes being utilized. Attention is also given to ensure that the processes are in compliance with government statutes and administrative rules. Then, through formal written recommendations to management, I have helped to improve / streamline work processes for more effective and efficient State government. With each key audit project, I have helped draft the reports that are submitted to the oversight entities, which are the Governor’s Office, the Legislative Budget Board, the Sunset Advisory Commission, and the State Auditor’s Office.

As an external auditor with the State Auditor’s Office, the focus was on other state agencies for the same goals.

I am a Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

My goals for Blanco include added support for our Police, Fire and EMS, which provide such value and are so essential to our community, responsible growth in accordance with our city’s Blanco Comprehensive Plan (2005) and to the Blanco Historic Preservation Action Plan, and to review of our city’s fiscal control policies to ensure that tax money is used most effectively and appropriately for the benefit of Blanco and its citizens.

I encourage your input, as the council should be your voice in city government.

Ann Adkins-Broyles

Blanco resident for nearly 15 years. Married to Alex and have two children, Chase and Brenlea. Sr. Vice President of Texas Hills Bank.

I believe that I am a good candidate for School Board because: I am passionate about the school board race as it is important that the School Board understands their role in the school system. I support our Superintendent running the schools, not certain members of the school board. I support looking for options to improve the conditions of schools, especially the Elementary Schools. I support expanding our Pre-K program and recognizing those teachers who have done such a fine job with so little to work with. I support making teachers and grades equal and not playing favoritism. I support positive change and doing away with “status quo.”

Mary Ann Weaver

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in 1981 I left the cold...for Texas. While living in Austin and working at Brackenridge Hospital, I became very involved in professional activities eventually becoming President of the Austin Area Society of Health-System Pharmacists and serving as a Board member on the State level. I love my profession, but after moving to Blanco in 1987 with my husband John, I began to feel more of a need and responsibility to support activities in our community and at our schools. I joined the PTO, volunteered at the schools, organized a Girl Scout troop, taught Sunday school, and provided professional advice at various career day and health fair activities. I am a founding member of the Texas Heartland Republican Women's Club, served as secretary on the Board of the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society and am currently on the Gem of the Hills Aquatics Advisory Board.

I maintain my professional accreditation by working locally at Strickland Drugs and also at Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg. As a practicing pharmacist for over 25 years I have developed the ability to listen, evaluate and offer sound advice.

I have gained extensive experience with Blanco ISD over the years having two children graduated from BISD to attend nationally ranked Universities and currently have a daughter in Middle School and a son in High School.

I take the job of Blanco ISD Trustee seriously. A trustee is just that; someone elected to be entrusted with the responsibility of our children's education, the facilities and staff, and to be a good steward of the tax payer's dollars. I bring the experience of six years on the board. I have attended numerous board member training sessions and pursued a certification from the Texas Association of Schools Boards Institute for School Trustee Development. This certification and continuing education provide the knowledge for making wise decisions.

While the growth of our districts enrollment is a top concern it hasn't risen as fast as anticipated. Enrollment in August 2004 was 950 students, with a current district enrollment in April 2008 of 969 students. This represents only a 2% increase over the period.

With the current state of our nation's economy, it is important that as a district, we remain financially sound. We are in good financial condition, having received a "superior" rating for School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) for the past 4 years. We strive to maintain a healthy fund balance, while keeping our tax rates low. This equates to protecting our school district financially without compromising our student's educational standing.

Currently, 100% of Blanco's teachers meet the statutorily required "Highly Qualified" criteria, which is extremely important if we are to capture an "exemplary" accountability rating in spite of the tougher requirements imposed on us by our legislators.

My only objective is to make decisions that are in the best interest of our students, our district and our tax payers.