- What are the most pressing challenges facing our community at a local level right now?
One of the most pressing challenges facing our community at the local level today, I believe, is planning for our city’s future. Fortunately, the Midlothian City Council is dedicated to a planning process that involves broad-based community input. City Council has approved several plans in the last couple of years, including the Downtown Master Plan and the Park Vision Master Plan, both of which have won awards from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association. The city is also currently in the process of updating its 2018 Comprehensive Plan, which is a long-range, decision-making guide for the future growth and development of the city. It’s very important that citizens participate in these planning processes. The best way to do this is to visit the Comp Plan website and get up to speed on what is being considered and then plan to attend the next Comprehensive Plan Open House, which will be held this spring. Watch for announcements on the city’s website, in the news, and on social media about the open house and future citizen engagement activities.
- Considering the evolving media landscape, what role do you see local newspapers playing in the community five years from now?
I see the local newspaper playing a more active role in the community five years from now. The days may be gone when citizens consider the local newspaper a primary source of information on current events, but that makes it no less important. Five years from now, I would expect to see the local newspaper continuing to take an active role in gathering and disseminating news about Midlothian. I would also like to see local newspaper representatives be present at City Council and Board and Commission meetings, reporting the decisions and direction of elected and appointed officials in an unbiased manner. What citizens need to realize is that without coverage of our local government by the news media, there is no other reliable, objective source of information about government activities. Local papers aid in efforts for complete governmental transparency, which is always a good thing. Additionally, without local newspaper coverage, there would be no chronicle of the city’s history.
- In your opinion, what role should our newspaper play in promoting civic participation and community involvement?
The local newspaper plays a critical role in promoting civic participation and community involvement. Too often activities like City Council meetings, community townhalls, and open houses are attended by only a handful of citizens. Even though city staff makes a substantial effort to publicize community involvement activities, it is difficult to compete with people’s pressing schedules and priorities.
- What community events or activities do you believe our newspaper should cover to better connect with our residents?
As mayor, I am privileged to have a front-row seat to many wonderful stories that unfold in our city every day. As well, there are many more stories that go untold. I encourage the local newspaper to seek out the human-interest stories that inspire us to be better neighbors — both the prominent and the obscure. Current events: What makes a high school soccer coach, like Coach Guest, so successful? Who are some of the players he influenced? History: What members of the 1958, 1959, and 1960 Midlothian High School Boys Basketball Teams are still with us today and what are their memories? Business news: What drives businesses, large and small, to locate in Midlothian? I could go on and on. News doesn’t have to be sensational to be interesting. Newspapers can connect with residents by going back to using news pegs to determine newsworthiness: proximity, timeliness, magnitude, prominence, consequence, impact, novelty, and human interest.
- Considering the current economic landscape, how can our newspaper support local businesses and contribute to economic growth in the community?
In order to contribute to the local economy, newspapers have to show their relevance and value to readers and advertisers. The biggest challenge for local newspapers is competing with free access to the news, versus subscription access; cheap advertising on social media, versus much higher cost print advertising. I do not know how to surmount these obstacles, but I do believe that newspapers have much value to the community. Without newspapers, our community would lose its source of objective information about elections, candidates, or elected government officials. Without newspapers, we would have no enduring historical record of local events. Somehow, newspapers need to get this message across to citizens and business owners and do what they can to recapture the respect that they once had. They need to regain their historical reputation for providing reliable, accurate, and objective information. Over time, I believe they will reclaim their position as a respected and essential service to the community.
