PORT NECHES —
Local businessman John Davenport is looking to bring his experience in private sector business to the Place 3 seat on Port Neches City Council.
Davenport, 44, is owner and founder of United Unlimited Sales in Port Neches, a business he says is a multi-million dollar company that does business globally. He believes his experience in business will be valuable to the city during the tough economic times.
Davenport is worried about the city’s riverfront development project and feels the money spent to acquire and develop the property would have been better spent in other ways.
“Current city leaders have spent more than $9 million dollars of tax payer's money on the River Front Development Project and we have little to show for it. Since 2004 the Port Neches Economic Development Corporation has contributed over 66 percent of its resources toward the development of this project,” Davenport said. “Tax payer money that could have been used to attract new, or support existing, businesses in this community.”
The city of Port Neches owns 80 acres of land adjacent to Port Neches Riverfront Park. Formerly two tracts of land used by industrial companies, the land underwent environmental and decontamination work through the years. In 2008, a master plan was unveiled consisting of six components; central park, retail village, marina, neo-traditional neighborhood, nature park and recreational vehicle park.
“We should sale the property ASAP. The city council, the EDC (economic development corporation) and my opponent, Terry Rozelle, should have never been involved in purchasing the property to begin with,” he said. “City government should not be in the land business. We tried that with Ford Park and look where it got us.”
Davenport is also concerned with ongoing litigation between Port Neches Police Officers Association and the city of Port Neches regarding the association’s contract.
He believes the two entities need to sit down together and work out the issue, adding he would not have changed the city’s original agreement with the association.
Davenport is a member of the Mid-County Optimist Club, and supported events for the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce, the Hughen Center and other civic and charitable organizations.
He, and his wife, Dianna, have three children and are members of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.
“I have conservative values and believe that the primary purpose of local government is to provide quality services that will make Port Neches a safe place to live and raise our children,” he said. “Additionally, city leaders need to focus on providing other essential services that are important to our quality of life.”
Davenport is endorsed by the Port Neches Police Officers Association and the Port Neches Firefighters Association.
1. What do you think about the tax rate in your community and what should be done about it?
I don’t believe in raising the tax rate. We pay too high of taxes now.
2. What should be done about development of the city’s riverfront?
We should sell the property ASAP. The city council, the EDC and my opponent terry Rozelle should have never been involved in purchasing the prperty to begin with. City government should not be in the land business. We tried that with Ford Park and look where it got us.
3. What should be done about the negotiations between the city of Port Neches and the Port Neches Police Association?
The city should have never sued the Police association to begin with. the way to settle this law suit is to sit down with them and work it out. I would have not changed the original agreement with the Police association. When I get elected I will push hard to support our Police department.
4. State your platform in 75 words or fewer. If you go over the 75 word limit, entries will be edited to fit appropriate space.
Read above.
Elections
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John Davenport
Discussion
PN Council Pl. 3 John Davenport
- Elections
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- Local sample ballots
- Candidate field crowded; polling sites not
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Turnout ‘fair’ so far in early voting
See candidate profiles and election Q&As in the Elections section of panews.com.
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Nederland voters to choose; street maintenance or economic development
Proposition
“The reauthorization of the local sales and use tax in the City of Nederland, Texas at the rate of one-quarter of one-percent to continue providing revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets.” -
Nederland Council Ward 1 Talmadge Austin
Name: Talmadge Austin
Age: 48
Employment: DuPont Sabine River Works, Orange
Education: Graduated from NHS in 1981. Served U.S. Navy 1982 to 1986
Political experience/public service:
Civic/social involvement: Coached girls softball in Nederland for 10 years. Served on the board for Nederland Girls Softball League
Family: Wife, Theresa Austin; daughters Caitlin and Cara; son, Colton
Church affiliation: St. Charles Catholic Church; ACTS member -
Nederland Council Ward 1 Jeffrey J. Ortiz
Name: Jeffrey J. Ortiz
Age: 28
Employment: Owner-Ortiz Fashions, management-Tuxedo Junction
Education: Nederland High School graduate, attended Lamar Institute of Technology
Political experience/public service: Serving first time on Nederland City Council, board member for United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County
Civic /social involvement:
Family: Mother, Patricia Ortiz Coffman; brother, John Ortiz
Church affiliation: Triumph Church Nederland -
Nederland Council Ward 1 Rick Williams
Name: Rick Williams
Age: 56
Employment: Law office of Rick Williams
Education: Nederland High School, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (Political Science emphasis) Lamar University, Doctor of Jurisprudence South Texas College of Law, Graduate Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma, State Certified Mediator.
Political experience/public service: Former State District Judge appointed by Governor Perry, president of the Nederland Educational Foundation, past commissioner of the Nederland Civil Service Commission, past chairman of the Nederland City Charter Task Force, former executive director of the Nederland Economic Development Corporation, past president of the Nederland Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Response Team, board of directors Southeast Texas Economic Development Foundation and SBAlliance Capital
Civic/social involvement: President of the Nederland Rotary Club, Rotary District 5910 Texas Roll of Fame, board of directors for IEA (Ben’s Kids) Juvenile Intervention Program, board of directors of the Southeast Texas Communities in Schools
Family: Wife, Amy; two children, Jason Williams and Leah Hallmark; five grandchildren
Church affiliation: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; served six years on the Vestry and 3 terms as senior warden of the parish, regularly serves as lecture for the Sunday service -
PN Council Pl. 5 Julie Gauthier
Name: Julie Gauthier
Age: 34
Employment: Port Neches-Groves ISD, Ridgewood Elementary Principal
Education: Port Neches-Groves High School graduate 1995, Bachelors from Texas A & M 1999, Masters from Lamar 2002.
Political experience/public service: City of Port Neches Board of Adjustment, alternate
Civic/social involvement: Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association, District 5, second vice-president; member of Delta Theta Educator Sorority
Family: Husband, Blake Gauthier; two children, Jake, 8, and Claire, 4
Church affiliation: Member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church -
PN Council Pl. 5 Matt Vincent
Name: Matt Vincent
Age: 52
Employment: Real Estate
Education: Port Neches-Groves ISD graduate, 1977; attended Lamar University; licensed Realtor over 30 years
Political experience/public service: Port Neches City Councilmember since 1999; Planning and Zoning Commission five years prior to council; board of directors of the Port Neches Economic Development Corporation for past 10 years; commission on the Jefferson County Mosquito Control District for Mid-County
Civic/social involvement: Port Neches Chamber of Commerce, Ducks Unlimited,
Family: Wife, Linda; daughters, Lindsey and Leah
Church affiliation: First Baptist Church Nederland -
PN Council Pl. 3 John Davenport
Name: John Davenport
Age: 44
Employment: Owner and founder of United Unlimited Sales in Port Neches
Education:
Political experience/public service: First time candidate
Civic/social involvement: Mid-County Optimist Club, supported events for the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce, the Hughen Center and other civic and charitable organizations
Family: Wife, Dianna; three children
Church affiliation: St. Elizabeth Catholic Church - More Elections Headlines
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