August 8th, 2011
Updated: Jones files for re-election; Becak expected to run against him

Jones

UPDATED 4:07 p.m. AUG. 9: As expected, San Marcos City Council Place 4 member Chris Jones filed today to run for a third term. Former longtime Balcones and Broadway bank executive Wayne Becak has picked up filing material from the city clerk’s office and is expected to file for Place 4 against Jones; as of 4 p.m., he had not filed for the position.

Texas State University senior Nicholas Cubides also filed for the Place 3 seat, joining healthcare administrator Toby Hooper and retired police Cmdr. Terry Nichols in that race.

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STAFF REPORT

Toby Hooper, who works as a contract negotiator for Seton Family of Hospital, says he has filed to run for San Marcos City Council Place 3, the second candidate to file in a race that has already drawn a third announced candidate.

Hooper

Kicking off an unusually early start to the local campaign season, Hooper announced his intention to run in May for the seat currently held by Fred Terry, who is not running again and has endorsed Hooper. In June, retired San Marcos police Cmdr. Terry Nichols also announced his intention to run. The two were joined last week in the race by Nicholas Cubides, a political science and history senior at Texas State University.

As he did in his unsuccessful city council bid last year against Jude Prather, Hooper said his announcement statement to his work experience as Seton’s network contract administrator would be an asset in municipal government.

“The skill of negotiating and assembling contracts is a perfect fit for the diverse challenges of city government. Before we can execute an agreement I have to bring the parties together, who are often at odds and sometimes angry. Once we have established civil communication then I make it known that we both need each other to survive. At this point we can begin to discuss the cost of ‘the spend’ or the ‘rates of revenue. After that, it is important to maintain a positive relationship because all contracts are renewed, amended or renegotiated and those proceedings are easier if we have committed to the long term; much like a marriage,” Hooper said.

Nichols

(The San Marcos Mercury and San Marcos Local News ran excerpts from Nichols’ announcement statement when he announced his intention to run in June. Those articles can be read here and here.)

Hooper is currently vice chair of the city’s ethics commission and is a previous chair of the Human Services Advisory Board. He is a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Greater Austin and a former board member for Keep Austin Beautiful and Austin Partners in Education.

A former classroom teacher, Hooper has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in education, both from Tarleton State University.

Hooper said he sees a larger role for city council member than those “prescribed under the Charter and Ordinances.”’

“I want to use my council seat as the ‘bully-pulpit’ for social issues affecting our quality of life and in particular our families, our children and the most vulnerable in our community. I want our young people in this community to know that ‘we’ have expectations for them to succeed and that we adults care about them. This is a not just an esteem builder for the youth but a motivator for our adults who have much to give in the way of positive interactions with our children,” Hooper said.

Cubides

In a brief announcement statement, Cubides said he has lived in San Marcos for three years and expects to graduate in December.

“San Marcos is a marvelous city that I have grown to love and admire. I am looking to improve the quality of life for each resident using our unique position in the area as a college- and family-friendly city. We need progressive ideas and real-world solutions to fully tap our business potential. I want to revitalize community participation which is necessary to the prosperity of San Marcos. I can be that voice for everyone in order to accomplish these goals,” Cubides said.

Regular city council elections are held in San Marcos every November on the general election day. Council members are elected at large for staggered three-year terms.

As of 1:30 p.m. today, no one had filed to run in Place 4 although incumbent Chris Jones has said he will seek a third term.

CORRECTION: This story originally attributed a quote to Nichols that should have been attributed to Hooper.