Preserve our neighborhoods by voting in the election.

While our community achieved a significant victory in the unanimous passing of the STR Ordinance in March, without a City Council committed to consistent enforcement, the new ordinance will have little effect. Therefore these elections are vital.
Our town is at a crossroads, and we need bold, forward-looking leadership. The current city council is populated by good people who love FBG, but their vision for leading FBG might be characterized as “business as usual.” We need leaders who will proactively lead, who will take the Path to the Future, roll up their sleeves, and get to work proactively running this playbook for the benefit of residents!
The FBG Neighborhood Coalition proudly supports Jeryl Hoover for mayor as well as Emily Kirchner and Tony Klein for city council.
Do all of these candidates share a fervent, identical commitment to preserving neighborhoods? Let’s be honest, of course they don’t…We all have varying ideas of what it means to preserve neighborhoods. And that’s fine! Some are pleased with the status quo following the passage of the new ordinance while others wish for more. Regardless of differences of opinion (which we respect), we believe Hoover, Kirchner, and Klein will be honest, transparent and committed to lead our town with the integrity and vision required.
Opponents of our efforts to preserve neighborhoods are loudly seeking to brand our Coalition as “trying to remove ALL STRs,” “anti-tourism,” and even, “people who hate everything.” These claims are simply not true and must be repudiated. As Jeryl Hoover rightly explained to me, “I don’t mind losing, but I’d hate to lose based on distortions of what I said I would do as mayor.”
All along our Coalition has called for the preservation of neighborhoods, acknowledging that in Fredericksburg’s secret recipe for hospitality, STRs do represent one ingredient of this recipe. STRs are not The Recipe, but they are an ingredient.
It’s time for us to be asking the tough visioning questions such as How do we leave Fredericksburg better than how we found it? Hoover, Kirchner and Klein will facilitate an honest inquiry into what is best for our town, take decisive action, and make us proud.
It’s not enough that YOU vote. Reach out to three friends today imploring them to vote. At stake is nothing less than one of the most extraordinary authentic small towns in the country. As far as I can tell, there is nowhere like Fredericksburg. It’s worth preserving.

David Turpin

ELECTION INFORMATION

Early voting for the city election at the Girl Scout Cabin at 202 W. Austin St. Early voting ends May 3.

Election Day will be held at the Fredericksburg Middle School Library, 110 W. Travis St. Election day hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Curbside voting is available.

For more information about the city council elections, contact City
Secretary Shelley Goodwin at 830-997-7521 or sgoodwin@ fbgtx.org or at the website.