Officials: Marble Falls council candidate can remain on EDC
MARBLE FALLS — A member of the Economic Development Corp. board can keep his seat, even though he’s running for a spot on the City Council, City Secretary Christina Laine said Thursday.
EDC director John Packer — owner of Alexis Granite — is one of 10 candidates seeking three at-large seats during the May 8 council election.
Packer was appointed to the EDC in 2009.
Laine said she’s received several questions from residents asking for clarification on whether Packer was allowed to remain on the EDC board after announcing his candidacy.
City rules state members of city commissions who wish to run for the council must first resign their seat on the commission before filing for election.
Those rules do not apply to the EDC, which is a corporation under state law, Laine said.
“It falls under a separate set of rules than the city,” she said. “The rules state that a board member can remain on the EDC while running for City Council.”
State law says that up to four council members can sit on an EDC board. Currently councilmen David Ives, Jim Weber and Mike Pilley are members. If elected to the council, Packer could stay on as the fourth council member to sit on the EDC board, Laine said.
Other city commissions have stricter guidelines, Laine said. Parks and Recreation Chairman Richard Lewis resigned his seat on the commission last week, prior to filing for a seat on City Council.
The 10 candidates are seeking at-large council seats currently held by Mayor Pro-Tem Pilley and councilmen Jim Weber and Chris Bridges.
Bridges, 46, is the only current council member seeking re-election, with Weber stepping down due to term limits and Pilley declining to seek another term.
In addition to Weber, health and safety manager Lewis, 38, and business owner Packer, 50, the other candidates are electronics technician Charles “Chuck” Dear, 52; retail manager Reed Norman, 52; retiree and Burnet County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Maddern, 62; merchant Patrick Carter, 57; professional server Brady McAlister, 24; retiree Michael Goff, 68; and attorney Allan Garrett, 35.