PROSPERTIMES Friday April 21, 2017 | Prosper, Texas
Me et The Candidates P r o s p e r To w n C o u n c i l E l e c t i o n By Joyce Godwin PROSPER TIMES The audience in the auditorium was sparse but the number of people watching on Facebook Live exceeded a whopping 1,300 for Meet the Candidate night sponsored by Cedarbrook Media. Not only was the Facebook audience large, it kept growing with people watching the presentation after the live session was finished. Only two candidates took the stage for this annual event. Jeff Hodges is running for Place 5 on the Town Council opposed by Laura Thomas who declined the invitation to participate. Curry Vogelsang is running unopposed for Place 3 and has held that position on the Council since 2011. He is Mayor Pro Tem this year. Wayne Bartley kicked off the evening serving as emcee Tuesday night. He welcomed the crowd in the auditorium at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church as well as those watching through Facebook and artfully delivered questions to both candidates. Those questions were gathered through social media and emails in the two weeks prior to the event. But, Bartley also encouraged the people watching to submit questions for the second half of the question and answer session. Some of those questions from the Facebook audience were “Do you think public monies (tax payer money) should go towards charitable efforts in the Town of Prosper?” and “Is it the proper role of government for Prosper's elected officials to actively seek businesses to come and do business in Prosper? Follow up: are you for or against tax abatements for these businesses?” One of the questions that came early in the evening was a request to clarify the wording on Proposition No. 2. “I find it a little confusing,” stated the questioner. Vogelsang replied “If you
are for no term limits you need to vote yes and if you are for term limits and want to leave that in place, then you vote no.” Vogelsang says he is for term limits but also has a concern about having them because there aren’t very many people stepping up to run for Council. “We need to have some town commitment from people who want to make our town a better place,” he said. Both candidates were asked to address the reimbursement issue on Proposition No. 3. Hodges took his turn first and said he understands
if there is a real expense for the individual but not if it’s a frivolous expense or something just for convenience. Vogelsang added a little history behind the issue. He said it’s always been in the Charter that Council members should be reimbursed for expenses. He said that in this Proposition, the word “reasonable” was added to keep someone for spending unnecessarily. He used the example that applies to traveling on an airplane. The Town should not have to reimburse someone for flying first class when coach is available. So, it’s about reimbursing
“reasonable expenses just to be sue someone doesn’t expect a blank check.” When asked why the candidates wanted to be on the Town Council, they both spoke about serving and giving back. Hodges said he began by serving on the Parks and Recreation Board of Directors and found he liked it enough to go for a second term. Vogelsang said he was raised by a father and grandfather who taught him “you have to give back. You can’t just be a taker, you have to be a giver. That’s why I serve and I look forward to the day I can pass the torch,”
speaking of encouraging others to step up and run for Town Council. The entire 90-minute project may be viewed on the Facebook page for We Are Prosper. The candidates talk about their priorities in the face of town growth and how to keep up with those changes. They talk about infrastructure, fire, police and working with the school system. Readers will find a real insight into some of the workings of the Town Council as well as a glimpse into the hearts of the candidates themselves.
Bills and Kirk get Te a c h e r o f t h e Ye a r for PISD Teachers from Hughes Elementary turned out armed with signs promoting their campus’ pick, Ashley Pontarelli, for Teacher of the Year.
By Joyce Godwin PROSPER TIMES
There was excitement in the air before Prosper’s ISD Board
INSIDE In His Presence - pg 3 Ladies In Leadership- pg 2 Community Calendar - pg 3 Get out and Vote- pg 3
of Trustees meeting on Monday. Walking through the door, there was a detectable buzz with representatives from each Prosper school present to support the Teacher of the Year from
Boys Baseball - pg 6 Softball - pg 6 Track & Field Results - pg 7 Signing Day - pg 7 7 on 7 - pg 8 PHS Golf - pg 8
their campuses. One of those from the elementary schools and one from the High School or middle schools would be selected as this year’s Teacher of the Year for the district. With the selection comes a pride of standing out and also a gift or two. Bernadette Gerace, head of the district’s Human Resources Department started the event a little ahead of the regular board meeting. “These are teachers who live the life we wish all teachers would live,” Gerace said referring to the
10 teachers who’ve been selected from the individual PISD campuses. As she introduced each one, Holly Ferguson, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, greeted the teachers with flowers and a trophy. After all were introduced Gerace said each will receive a $100 bonus in their pay checks. Then she introduced that David Bill from Light Farms Elementary and Caitlyn Kirk from Prosper High School were selected as Teachers of the Year for the school district. Along with the new title would also be an additional $500 from the district with their pay checks. There was still more to come as Gerace introduced Marisol Trautmann and Greg Dyer representing the Prosper Rotary Club who presented Bill and Kirk with checks for $500 each. “It’s an honor to be able to come here and give you something extra,” Trautmann said. Then came another presentation, this from Vice President and General Manager of the new Toyota dealership being built on U.S. Highway 380 and the Dallas North Toll Road, Kara Brinley. Brinley brought with her two framed certificates for each of the new Teachers of the Year. “We have a history of recognizing that education is the foundation that creates the opportunities for our children,” she said. “We recognize that it’s also about our educators. Our teachers are the ones who are inspiring and
Awards for Teachers of the Year are displayed before awards were made at Monday’s school board meeting.
Marisol Trautmann and Greg Dyer, representing the Prosper Rotary Club, flank the winners for district-wide Teacher of the Year David Bill and Caitlyn Kirk. The Rotary presented each one with a $500 check.
engaging and ultimately impacting the young minds of these children to think big and dream big. Caitlyn and David, on behalf of the new Longo Toyota and all of our team members at the Penske Motor Group, this is our way of saying thank you. We would like to present you with an all-new 2018 Camry to drive for one year.” When all the cheers of excitement died down Brinley explained, “We are not built yet but our grand opening SEE TEACHERS PG 2