Frisco Enterprise: Candidates Forum

From Frisco Enterprise, April 20, 2007

Candidates meet and greet voters at forum
By Penny Rathbun, staff writer

The Frisco Chamber of Commerce candidate forum on Thursday night was as much about how the candidates comport themselves as it was about their stand on various issues.

After a brief introduction from Dean Castillo, the event's chair, all six candidates were given 2 minutes each to introduce themselves.

Following the introductions, the audience was given a chance to literally have round-table discussions with each candidate.

The audience was asked to group themselves around six tables at the Collin College event center on the Frisco Preston Ridge campus. A candidate went to each table. After 10 minutes the candidates switched until each candidate had spent 10 minutes at each table.

Residents were able to ask their questions of the candidates directly.

The tolling of State Highway 121 was an important issue at one table. Candidate Fred Pascarelli, running for Place 2 on the council, said he thought a perfect scenario would be that the city was able to say no to tolls on SH 121. "(But) the reality is that there will be a toll of some sort. We should keep the funds in house," he said.

Jeff Cheney is also running for Place 2. He did not favor the tolling of State Highway 121. He said Cintra sees the tolling as a cash cow and it will be a devastating blow to the city.

In referring to the complicated issue, he said, "At a point in time not only do you want change, you want to help lead."

Bart Crowder, another Place 2 candidate, does not favor the tolling of SH 121. "It would be great if we could build it tomorrow for free," he said. "It's good considering an alternative bid. We can never build roads fast enough."

David Preston, candidate for Place 4, said, "The tolling of 121 is an absolute joke." He said the tolling should be done like the Dallas Tollway with tollbooths.

Chris Moss, running in Place 4, is also against the tolling of the state highway. "I'm completely against selling off the revenue stream. City leaders have been trying to get folks like us involved. We need to keep educating our representatives," said Moss.

"The states have not done a good job spending our tax dollars," said Place 4 candidate David Prince. "The state is basically holding us ransom. The tolls will be way too high."

At the conclusion of the forum well over half the audience of nearly 60 people stayed to continue talking to the candidates.