Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate

MICHAEL
HALL
Age: 28
Occupation: Engineering consultant, Richard Design Services

Professional licenses/certifications: Professional engineer, project

management professional

Candidate Questions
1. Why are you running for this position? What do you expect to
accomplish?
"I’m running for public office because I believe the city deserves better. We have
884 million dollars in revenue and somehow struggle to keep our infrastructure
functional. We take out long-term liabilities in the form of 20-year bonds so that we
can pay for roads that only last 10 years. We have a water system that is barely
functional due to neglect, much like our roads.

I want to reduce our long-term liabilities by only using bond money to pay for
critical projects with an amortization period longer than that of the bond itself. I
believe my experience as a Professional Engineer and Project Management
Professional will be an asset to this city."

2. Describe the purpose and role of the position you seek.

"The purpose of the mayor is to provide guidance and direction for the city council
and to ultimately help drive growth and prosperity in a city. A mayor should
represent the people of the city and their interests. My sole purpose for running for
mayor is to help make this city a better place."

3. Please describe your view on the role of government.

"I believe the most important role for government is to create a safe and efficient
environment for a community to thrive. I believe in small government that puts the
safety of the community first by directing proper funding to infrastructure in the
form of streets, water, and emergency services."

4. How did your values, experience, education and upbringing shape

that view? 
"I’m a very objective person. I was raised this way by my parents and is something I
practice every day with engineering. I base my opinions on factual evidence and
prefer to make my decisions after completely reviewing available information. I
think government should be there to provide a service to the community and I
believe that service is safety and efficiency of operation."

2018 General Election

 Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate

JOE MCCOMB
INCUMBENT
Age: 71

Occupation: President and CEO of McComb Relocation Services, a

moving and storage company

Candidate Questions
1. Why are you running for this position? What do you expect to
accomplish?
"I have the business and public service experience to serve, and the desire to make
our city a better place to work and live. I am running for reelection as Mayor to
continue moving our city forward on the following priorities: (1) streets, (2) water
and (3) wastewater to continue to make substantial progress on each. The most
visible is all the street construction. We have implemented bond projects and made
water system improvements, which have stabilized our system. We currently have a
superior rating from the TCEQ. We will continue addressing wastewater needs and
will continue to stay focused on these. Infrastructure needs are a challenge,
considering our financial capacity. We continue to seek funds to meet these
challenges. Other needs: police, fire, parks, libraries, pools, senior centers are a
few. We would love to have additional funding for them, however, there is no magic
money."

2. Describe the purpose and role of the position you seek.

"Mayor is the leader of the city council, the policy making body of our municipality;
encouraging cooperation between members of the council and with other
governmental entities; being accessible to citizens of our city being willing to make
tough and sometimes unpopular decisions; representing the city at the regional,
state and national level and maintaining personal integrity."

3. Please describe your view on the role of government.

"The role of local government is to provide the basic services and infrastructure
required for our community to thrive and enjoy a safe and good quality of life."

4. How did your values, experience, education and upbringing shape

that view? 
"All of what is referenced in this question (#4) have played a role on my view in my
response to my answer to the above question (#3)."

2018 General Election

 Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate

AISLYNN CAMPBELL
Age: 39

Occupation: Founder and executive director of GROW Local South

Texas, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Candidate Questions
1. Why are you running for this position? What do you expect to accomplish?
"I have a record of effecting change in Corpus Christi and we are in desperate need of an
inspirational change leader. Decades without visionary leadership has caused foundational, systemic
issues within our government: decades of street and infrastructure neglect, ‘solving’ problems with
no sustainable plan; our mayor, staff and citizens in a no-win, distrustful relationship; no
demonstrated plan to increase our tax base. Our plan includes underfunded public safety and quality
of life departments, massive debt and increased taxes with no communication about how long we
must hold to it. It’s not working, it’s wasteful and the entire community is sick from it.
My 4 Points of Focus repair our foundation: taxpayers receiving the basic city services paid for; a
vital, educated workforce empowering economic development; quality of life initiatives receiving
their overdue respect; reintroducing respect for and trust in all citizens as the new status quo."

2. Describe the purpose and role of the position you seek.

"In 'Council Manager Government' the mayor is a policy leader, legislator, leads the council agenda
and, with council, approves the annual budget. I believe the mayor is also the face and ambassador
for the city that must have a respectful, open and healthy working relationship with the City
Manager (and all staff). We require a mayor that creates consensus among citizens, staff and council
while working within his/her long term vision for the city."

3. Please describe your view on the role of government.

"City government’s main role is to provide basic city services with exceptional customer service. In
regards to policy creation, planning, spending and laws, government should hear all stakeholders
and professional counsel to balance community consensus with long-term best practices. It must be
courageous, bucking popular opinion for the city’s long-term best interests.
Another main cause of our issues is widespread misunderstanding of the respective jobs of the
mayor, council and city manager. Spelled out in the city charter, council members create ‘the plan’
while the city manager provides its management down to 'operating the city within its budget.' The
roles have blurred and city council often oversteps its charter-mandated duties.
In solving our foundational, systemic issues, selecting the strongest city manager that Corpus
Christi has seen in a lifetime and clearly explaining his/her mandated job description might be the
most important single task of the new council’s term."

4. How did your values, experience, education and upbringing shape that view? 
"Vitality, courage, authenticity and resourcefulness are the values that I bring to the campaign, the
reasons for GROW Local South Texas’ quick success and required at city hall. My work requires city
interaction at all levels and quickly taught me that our government is not prepared for the adoption
or adaptation of policies for future-minded growth. The city is oftentimes its own obstacle to many
kinds of progress when an unknown solution is required or a new idea is presented. Given my work’s
importance in terms of the city’s forward movement, I created a network of city employees, city
staff, city council and collaborative non-profits to empower our city beyond outdated policy, codes
and uninformed or simply uneducated management. I worked within our system, changing it where
required, to succeed.
I believe all of our issues are solvable, over time, when we finally address and solve our
foundational, systemic issues."

2018 General Election

 Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate

RAY MADRIGAL DE
PANCHO VILLA
Age: 76
Occupation: Retired Photographer

Military service: U.S. Army

Candidate declined to participate in questionnaire.

Corpus Christi Mayoral Candidate

DAN MCQUEEN
Age: 58

Occupation: CEO (unspecified business); Former Corpus Christi

Mayor

Military service: U.S. Navy

Candidate declined to participate in questionnaire.

2018 General Election