| Four contenders battle for 3 open council seats 04/06/2001 By Scott Stafford / The Dallas Morning News Addison voters will have to choose which of four candidates they want to fill three City Council seats up for election on May 5.
Of the four candidates, three are wrapping up their first terms as council members, and one is a financial analyst.
Steve Blum
Steve Blum, 25, said he is hoping to use his background in finance and budgeting to help the city maintain its financial health. "There is a lot of budgeting and a lot of financial analysis in running the city," said Mr. Blum. "Looking at my background and my training, I can get involved in the community by working on the City Council. Addison's budget is large, very large for its size, and I think my background in accounting would help facilitate changes."
Mr. Blum is a financial analyst with the Nautilus Group, a division of New York Life Insurance.
He is a native of the Kansas City area and a graduate of SMU. He said that while Addison is "thriving," there are some aspects that could be improved. "I think one of the problems that faces us is excess office space. Also, there are some empty storefronts. Overall, our city has the opportunity to grow as Dallas grows."
Bob Barrett
Council member Bob Barrett, 76, is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel (he served as base commander for three bases). He is also a retired real estate executive.
"I have the experience to still do some good, and I have a good voter base that knows me," said Mr. Barrett. "I'm a very firm believer that elective office should go to people who have served on committees and boards and taken the time to figure out what the city is all about and how they may be able to help do some good."
Mr. Barrett has lived in Addison since 1993 and has served on the Addison Master Thoroughfare Planning Committee, the Phase II Les Lacs Linear Park Citizens Advisory Committee and the Addison Airport Board. He is finishing his first term as a council member.
The main challenge facing Addison, he said, is improving the traffic flow. "Addison has been out in the forefront for a long time trying to improve the flow of traffic, especially the east-west traffic," Mr. Barrett said. "Belt Line, at peak traffic times it's very congested and irritating." He said the city should continue to work with DART to bring commuter rail service to Addison. The airport is also an important factor in Addison, he said. "We're always looking out for things that we can do to help our own airport. The airport is a little engine that helps drive our city."
Glynda Turner
Glynda Turner, 50, an 11-year Addison resident, is executive director of the Texas Association of Medical Equipment Dealers. She has served on the Addison Zoning Board of Adjustment, the North Addison Park Task Force, the Addison Recreation Advisory Board and the Addison Airport Board. She is ending her first term as a City Council member.
Ms. Turner noted that much of the city's effort is devoted to improving the traffic flow with projects like the Arapaho extension and the improvements to the Belt Line intersection at the Dallas North Tollway.
Another challenge for the city involves the Addison Airport. "One of the things I've been hearing about the most is airport noise," said Ms. Turner. "They've promised to do everything possible, and I think we're already seeing some improvement on that."
She has served as election judge, is a member of the Addison Business Association and the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, and previously worked as public affairs director for Dallas Realtors.
Cathy Ways
Cathy Ways, 50, works as a senior business planner for J.C. Penney Co. She has served on the Addison Airport Board and the Addison Planning and Zoning Commission and is serving the last few weeks in her first term as a council member. She has been an Addison resident for 18 years.
The traffic improvement projects are important to Addison, Ms. Ways said, and she would like to remain on the council to see those projects through. "I'm very interested in seeing that is completed and finished out the way we anticipated. I'm also very interested in our new arts and events district. I would like to stay involved in that process and see that come to fruition."
Ms. Ways said this is an important time for the airport as well. "One of the reasons I ran in the last election was because of the change in airport management. I want to see that stabilized and actually work with the new management. I think we have some opportunities out there to really improve the airport. It is a big part of Addison."
Addison has a limit of three consecutive two-year terms. Voters will pick three of the four council candidates. The three candidates with the most votes will win seats on the council.
Staff writer Scott Stafford can be reached at 972-418-9999, ext. 2004, and by e-mail at .
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