Why I Stepped Down
I was elected twice to serve on Westlake Town Council and the Westlake Academy Board of Trustees. Early in my second term, I decided to step down. With six children in the school, I did not take the decision lightly.
Public service requires confidence and trust. Over time, I no longer believed those standards were being upheld.
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Several events during my final months on Council led me to that conclusion.
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Campaign Money and Development Decisions
During the 2024 election cycle, Westlake residents received campaign materials from a general-purpose political action committee known as Westlake Excellence PAC.
Public campaign finance reports show that the PAC raised approximately $47,000 during the May 2024 election cycle. Of that amount:
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$15,000 came from F&G CC, LLC - an entity for which Mayor Kim Greaves is publicly listed as the sole member and director in Texas Comptroller records;
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$10,000 came from MRW Investors, LLC - an entity with registered land interests in Entrada; and
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$2,500 came from Atwood Custom Homes, Inc. - a homebuilder marketing residential lots within Entrada.
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During the same reporting period, campaign finance reports show that the PAC spent more than $42,000 on consulting, digital advertising, mail, signs, and events in support of the Mayor and aligned candidates.
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Within weeks of the election, zoning and development matters relating to Entrada were scheduled for Council review.
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On May 20, 2024, a zoning request related to the construction of a bank and residential housing was considered. A representative of MRW Investors, LLC - a contributor to the PAC - spoke in support of the request. The commercial zoning was approved, with the residential portion being deferred for a later meeting.
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On June 3, the matter returned to Council, where it was acknowledged on the record that the Mayor and two council members had met with representatives of the project. The residential portion, which had previously been deferred, was then reconsidered and approved.
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I objected to the process and suggested the matter should have been discussed in an open workshop setting. I was advised that a quorum could not be convened for that purpose. I abstained from the vote, citing concerns about the process. It passed with the remaining council members in support.
As a matter of principle, I am uncomfortable when developers with matters pending before Council financially participate in local political activity. Even when lawful, that overlap risks eroding public confidence.
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Meeting Attendance and Public Process
In the lead-up to the 2024 mayoral election, Mayor Kim Greaves emailed the full Town Council stating that he would no longer attend regular Town Council meetings, citing disagreements regarding prior Council actions. During that same period, six publicly scheduled Town Council meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum. In addition, he was not present at the May 15 canvassing of the election results.
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Following the election, the Mayor was sworn in outside of a publicly noticed full Council meeting.
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At the official May 20, 2024 swearing-in meeting of the remaining councilmembers, an invitation circulated using the official Town of Westlake logo promoting a Town Hall event offering free food prior to the meeting. Campaign filings show that on May 20, 2024, the Westlake Excellence PAC reported paying $3,366.56 for catering for a "PAC Meet and Greet Event" held that same day. After raising concerns about the use of the official Town Logo for an event occurring the same day as a PAC-funded meet-and-greet, I was advised its use had not been authorized by Town staff.
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Public service requires consistent participation, clear process, and clear separation between governance and political activity. In my view, this sequence fell short of that standard.
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Major Decisions Settled Outside Public Debate
After the election, key decisions were often discussed prior to formal open sessions, limiting meaningful public deliberation. ​
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On multiple occasions, I was encouraged to submit my questions in advance rather than raise them fully during meetings, and there was discussion of limiting public sessions to ninety minutes. While efficiency matters, complex financial and policy decisions deserve thorough public discussion.
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During the 2024 budget cycle, I advocated for two student guidance counselor positions at Westlake Academy to replace a departing staff member. In private budget discussions, those positions were removed and replaced with a new, unrelated administrative role. The decision was presented as settled before public discussion.
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By early August of 2024, I concluded I could no longer effectively serve under those conditions and made the difficult choice to step down. At the August 5 meeting, the Council accepted my resignation.
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Although I was approached by reporters at the time, I chose not to speak publicly about my differences. I believed Westlake deserved stability, not escalation.
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While stepping back was not easy, many of the same governance concerns remain. I am running for Mayor because Westlake deserves steady, transparent leadership with decisions made through a clear public process.
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