Robert Crawley is asking Denison voters to choose him as the next mayor. Crawley, who sits on the Place 4 seat on the city council, will face off against fellow City Council member Brian Hander during the city’s May 4 elections to determine the next mayor, following the end of Janet Gott’s term.
The Herald Democrat recently reached out to both candidates for their take on the issues facing the city and why voters should choose them of the city’s highest elected seat.
The questions and answers can be found below:
Q: For voters who may not be familiar, who are you and where may they know you in the community?
My wife and I are 40-year residents of Denison raising our three children here who all graduated from DHS. In addition to 5 years on the City Council, I have served as both Trustee and Finance Chairman at Waples Methodist Church. My community service efforts include leading the Chamber of Commerce, Denison Development Alliance, Denison United Way, Denison Development Foundation, Texoma Medical Center, Denison Rotary Club, Denison Athletic Booster Club, Yellowjacket Mentors, Boys Club, Girls Club, Little League, Denison Community Foundation and numerous others. In my role as Market President at First United Bank over these 40 years, I have had the honor of meeting many people, helping them reach their financial goals, and for some, achieving home ownership.
Q: What led you to decide to run for mayor while sitting on the council?
I am passionate about Denison, and I have always wanted to see our community prosper. I am excited about the direction we are moving and want to ensure we keep moving forward. I am willing to serve because I’m convinced my experience and leadership makes me the right person for Mayor at this time in our history. The decisions we make today will impact our city for decades to come.
Q: What unique skill sets, traits or backgrounds do you feel you will bring to the mayoral position if you are elected?
Crawley: “As a forty-year banker in our community, I have a unique perspective of our great city. My proven leadership and willingness to serve have given me an in-depth understanding of Denison and the needs of our citizens. Managing a bank of 30+ employees includes working within a budget, creating strategic plans for growth, and being held accountable for success. This is the same skill set required to effectively lead a city. Having served for the past five years on the Council, I have a strong working knowledge of city management and the priorities needed to address the current and future unprecedented growth.”
Q: If elected, what topics and matters do you see as priorities if you are elected?
Streets and infrastructure will always be a priority. Right-sizing our Police and Fire Rescue Departments to mirror our growth will also be a top goal. Retaining key staff and recruiting top talent will be imperative in managing growth while ensuring the quality of life expectations of our citizens.
Q: What challenges do you see facing Denison in 2024, and how do you plan to address them if elected?
Ensuring smart growth of our community will be our number one challenge, as it impacts every aspect of the city. The planning process is the most critical part of making the right choices for this growth. We will continue our strategic planning process that has been underway for the last several years by the Council and Staff with input from our citizens. This continuous planning will lead to implementing the programs needed to address the growth and its impact on our citizens.
Q: While Sherman is the epicenter of growth focused on TI and GlobalWafers, Denison is also poised to take advantage of this growth. How do you think Denison should position itself to best take advantage of this?
Denison, as witnessed by the recent announcement of Preston Harbor, is in an excellent position to reap the benefits of the growth occurring in the region. This $6 billion development will provide all levels of housing plus entertainment for the workforce that will be migrating to this area. Additionally, we have three publicly owned business parks containing over 400 acres which are being aggressively marketed to suppliers of the local simi-conductor industry. Denison is uniquely positioned to provide a quality of life for those who choose us as their community of choice. This can all be accomplished while keeping the close community feel that we have come to cherish.
