| Surgenor, 19, seeks Rowlett council seat 04/11/2001 By Jeff Parish / The Dallas Morning News ROWLETT – Kenneth Surgenor may be young, but he says he is ready to serve the residents of Rowlett.
The 19-year-old Eastfield College student is seeking the Place 1 City Council seat being vacated by Michael Zang, who is not seeking re-election. Mr. Surgenor, who lives in Westwood Estates, will face Bruce Mahnken and Tom Adams in the May 5 election.
After recent national government scandals, he said, "I want to be an honest politician. People always make jokes about crooked politicians."
Mr. Surgenor said he would like to see committees set up in every Rowlett subdivision to help with crime prevention, let neighbors get to know each other and keep the council and residents informed about what is happening in the city. Increased community involvement is important in "making everybody feel like it's their city and their government," he said.
Mr. Surgenor also said the city needs to implement a bond program to form a Rowlett school district. It is senseless to send Rowlett students to schools in other cities, he said, adding that Garland schools are crowded.
"I should know," he said, "I just got out of them."
Mr. Surgenor said Rowlett has a high enough tax base to support a school district, which he said would attract families and, in turn, family-oriented businesses such as skating rinks and movie theaters.
He also expressed concern about the proposed route of the President George Bush Turnpike, which would pass near Rowlett High School. He suggested possibly running the tollway in a tunnel under State Highway 66 and having it emerge near Miller Road.
Mr. Surgenor acknowledged that he has little experience with city government but said: "Everybody's inexperienced until they actually get in there and do the job. I could be 45 years old and still be inexperienced."
Staff writer Jeff Parish can be reached at 972-771-5191, ext. 103, and at .
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