announcing re-election campaign 2025

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 It’s my honor and privilege to officially announce my re-election campaign for Mayor of Melissa, Texas! 

Three years ago, I outlined five key priorities to guide Melissa’s growth. Thanks to the vision of the City Council and the dedication of City staff, we’ve achieved incredible progress in each area.

The past three years have been incredible, filled with challenges, accomplishments, and growth. Melissa has been home for 24 years, and I love this city as much today as when I first moved here. Serving as your Mayor has been an honor, and I am ready to continue serving and working for the future of Melissa! 

•  Voters approved Public Safety Districts, allocating sales tax funds to Police and Fire Departments to meet evolving needs.
• Police staffing increased by 79%, with the addition of a traffic unit and a commercial vehicle enforcement unit launching in spring 2025.
• Installed 22 license plate reader cameras, which have already helped recover stolen vehicles, apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants, and sending a clear message: crime won’t thrive in Melissa!
• Fire staffing increased by 80%.
• Entered the design phase for a second fire station, with construction starting summer 2025, to enhance response capabilities.
• Fire-based EMS services will launch later this year, transitioning ambulance operations in-house. With 76% of Melissa FD certified at the paramedic level, this change ensures top-tier care.
• Increased Public Works staffing by 63%, recognizing their critical role in maintaining and restoring essential services like water, wastewater, and transportation during emergencies.

•  Approved 1.3 million square feet of commercial space since 2021.
• Welcomed 23 new businesses in 2024, including Kroger, Cardinal Carrier Express, Taco Casa, Texas Republic Bank, Noni’s, and Green Acres.
• Walmart’s new “store of the future” opens in 2025, bringing 320 jobs, over $1 million in sales and property tax revenue, and $100,000+ in local giving and volunteer opportunities.
• H-E-B is also set to open later this year, bringing another highly anticipated shopping option to our residents.
• Sales tax revenue increased from $4.6 million in 2022 to $9.1 million in 2024, enhancing tax base diversity and reducing dependency on property taxes.
• Property tax rate reduced by 20% since Fiscal Year 2021, with a competitive rate for cities in our area of 0.454116.
• Implemented a tax freeze for residents aged 65+, a $30,000 exemption for seniors and those with disabilities, and a 6% homestead exemption. Melissa is one of only eight Collin County cities offering both a senior tax freeze and a residential homestead exemption.

Tremendous progress is happening with the reconstruction and expansion of roads that TxDOT maintains, as well as roads the City maintains. I’ve said it many times: road construction can be painful and inconvenient, I experience the same pain points as the rest of the community, but improved roadways, both in quality and capacity, are not possible without construction. 

• Melissa Road between Highway 5 and 121, and west of Highway 75, is now open, along with the Cardinal Road extension to Highland Road.
• Downtown street improvements are paving the way for a vibrant district.
• TxDOT is widening Highway 5, while FM 545 has entered the design phase.
• Our water and wastewater systems are keeping up with growing demand without issues.
• Progress continues on Melissa’s water connection to the North Texas Municipal Water District via Bois D’Arc Lake.

•  Acquired 325 acres to expand our parks system and secured a 24-acre open space dedication at no cost to the City.
• Melissa Lake Park Phase 2 is underway, adding a covered playground, pavilion, splash pad, amphitheater, and multipurpose areas.
• We continue encouraging developers to build and maintain neighborhood parks, preserving green spaces across our community.

 Our relationship with Melissa ISD remains strong and collaborative, fostering joint initiatives like 2025’s joint active shooter training 

• Expanded our communications team with a manager and specialist, and added an events specialist to meet growing interest in city events.
• Hosted popular events like the Melissa Road Tribute Fest and Tree Lighting Ceremony, with more to come.
• Launched a citywide non-emergency text service via TextMyGov.
• Completed two citizen satisfaction surveys to guide long-term strategic planning.