Waco mayor hopefuls differ on development goals

District 5 Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Holmes is facing attorney Aubrey Robertson and pastor and activist Eric Brown in the election. Early voting begins Monday and runs through April 30.

The candidates agree on the need for more housing, especially low-income housing.

But Robertson and Brown oppose the city's proposed $130 million deal with a developer to create Riverway, a 1,887-home development on the Brazos River that is expected to bring homes starting in the $300,000s to $400,000s. Robertson also questions city council priorities such as a proposed minor league ballpark and a performing arts center.

Holmes, who has served in District 5 as a council member since 2015, said running for mayor was the next logical step in his career in public office and would allow him to continue the work he has done in council

“The last six, seven years, we've had over 30 new companies, $3.3 billion in new investment and 4,300 new jobs come to Waco,” Holmes said. “This has a positive economic benefit to the city of a larger tax base. We can shift some of the burden from residents to these big companies.”

Holmes said investment to create new, better-paying jobs has been a priority during his time in office, along with more investment in roads.

Holmes also said he has supported the city's efforts to improve the quality of life in Waco, including free concert series and downtown events, helping to keep Waco graduates in the city.

Holmes also said public safety would be a major emphasis if elected.

“It's very important to me that we have a strong police force and a strong fire department that's well-equipped, well-trained and well-led,” Holmes said. “Both the police and fire departments have experienced a reduced response time, which is great. And we've had the lowest crime rate in 20 years, as (Police) Chief (Sheryl) Victorian reported a couple of months ago in her report. So I want to continue with that focus.”

While on the council, Holmes said Waco's police and fire departments have expanded by 10 percent and the city has built three fire stations. Holmes also said his focus on public safety includes investments in streets and sidewalks.

Holmes said Waco has been able to lower tax rates in each of the past three years and said he will work to continue to do so in the face of rising supply chain costs and high inflation as many taxpayers have begun to feel the burden of rising prices. .

Holmes said Waco needs new housing in all price ranges, including the lower end. He said a study the city commissioned showed a need for 5,000 to 10,000 more housing units in Waco.

Holmes said Waco has strategically bought land in the city with plans for developments, including the former Floyd Casey Stadium site. The city is also considering a $130 million deal with developers to build Riverway on 520 acres along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Riverway is not expected to include lower-income housing, but Holmes said the economic benefits of having a large, master-planned community so close to downtown would be huge for downtown businesses and city growth.

Robertson, a defense attorney, is a former McLennan County prosecutor who ran unsuccessfully for district attorney as a Democrat in 2022. He also narrowly lost to Josh Borderud in the 2020 election for council from district 3.

Robertson said he is motivated to run by a sense of duty and service to the citizens of Waco.

He said he chose to run for mayor this time instead of against Borderud so he wouldn't face an incumbent.

Robertson said he supports economic development, but doesn't want to push development “for the sake of development.”

He said with increased development downtown, many residents could see higher property tax bills, which he would fight to lower.

Robertson questioned the city's support for high-profile, luxury developments at a time when affordable housing is in short supply.

“They are not using their resources wisely,” he said. “For example, when we know that there is an incredibly short supply of affordable housing in this community, I don't understand why we're building a minor league baseball stadium downtown. I don't understand why we're building a state. – State-of-the-art performing arts center on the river I'd like those things too, but I want to make sure you want to prioritize this housing.'

Robertson said it was a “missed opportunity” not to require the Riverway developer to build low-income housing and said, as mayor, he would direct the city to build more housing projects to benefit residents.

On the other hand, Robertson said the new ordinance allowing accessory dwellings in the backyard was a step in the right direction and could be a focus for new housing.

Robertson said he would seek to improve government transparency and responsiveness, citing one man who he said has been waiting for a sidewalk to be built in front of his home for more than 40 years.

“Going to these neighborhood associations, there's a disconnect between what's happening at City Hall and what's happening on the street,” Robertson said. “They feel like there's not good communication back and forth between the city government and the people.”

Robertson said he would also look to strengthen public safety, as well as water and sewer systems and roads.

While Robertson praised Holmes' financial background and budget experience, he said she brings experience as a litigator to the job.

Robertson said that while he has no experience in local government, his status as an outsider makes him a potential agent of change at City Hall.

“If you want more of the same vote for the other,” Robertson said. “If you want something different, if you think city government hasn't kept its promise, if you think they haven't done what they're supposed to do, vote for me.”

Brown was born and raised in Chicago, lived in Florida for 10 years and has called Waco home for four years.

He said he has been involved in nonprofits and is starting a church in Waco. He said he has seen a strong sense of community in Waco and would seek as mayor to get underrepresented communities more involved in city government.

Brown also opposes the city's Riverway deal and said Waco needs to emphasize low-income housing developments. As mayor, Brown said he would focus on buying vacant properties and building on them, as well as expanding Mission Waco's tiny house project.

Brown is also in favor of downtown economic development, but not at the expense of expanding housing. Brown said he wants to focus on developing all parts of Waco and all local communities, not just the downtown corridor.

“Not everyone has the accessibility to go downtown,” Brown said. “Some people don't want to go downtown. So I'm more on the side of us building in the inner communities. So we can have different grocery stores, or different services or different things that the community can use.”

Brown also said he wants to build Waco's profile to include more jobs and hopes to attract tech companies. Brown also highlighted the transparency of public officials as a big focus for him.

“I've seen the council run, and I've seen people come to the mayor and their requests go unanswered,” Brown said. “The city really cares about the development of downtown and the development of Baylor, and the inner communities are suffering. So the reason I decided to run for mayor is because I'm tired of not getting answers citizens' requests. I want the mayor's office to be a transparent office. My door will always be open.”

Brown also singled out transportation, the drug crisis and stopping human trafficking as his top three issues. Brown said he wants to expand public transportation through Waco's bus system. He said he wants to establish a drug task force within Waco PD and create resources for addicted people to get help, and will work closely with the McLennan County Sheriff's Office to combat trafficking.