Q: Mayor Moncrief has had such a close relationship with TCU, including implementing “Purple Fridays” and approving a “Go Frogs” sign painted in the grass along the Trinity River. Do you plan on continuing that relationship with TCU and if so, how?
A: I think we have to exploit and encourage the support of TCU and the existence of TCU, and we have to make certain that this school is heavily represented not just here in the city but in North Texas. I would continue these policies and any other ideas that TCU has and anyone else has because ultimately the students know how to promote their school the best.
Q: Do you have any specific ideas as to how that relationship would continue?
A: I don’t know the specific relationship Mr. Moncrief has with the school right now, but I would of course make certain to speak to the faculty and staff as much as possible, any ideas they have to help promote the school and get the school front and center in Fort Worth’s promotional material, anything like that to make certain that people know TCU is here, it’s a great school, the students are great, the facilities are wonderful and people should send their kids here.
Q: Why should TCU students vote for you as the next mayor?
A: I think because many of the students will ultimately — at least I hope — stay in Fort Worth. And as I’ve said in other interviews, I want to project a long term vision of the city, one that not only recognizes the current generation of leadership but also lays a foundation so that the people graduating from TCU now, our generation of 18 to 35-year-olds, know that there is a city in the immediate future that is going to be a leader in North Texas. I think that I will project that vision and lead that future city. I think it’s going to be tricky and it’s going to require the participation of the next generation who are going to be our city leaders but we can do it. I hope they support me because ultimately it is about our future. The people right now who are graduating are going to be our civic leaders, political leaders and community leaders in the next ten years. They have to get involved now, and I want to get them involved as early as possible.
Q: The city has attempted to improve Berry Street to include more businesses. What are your thoughts on the Berry Street Initiative?
A: I think it’s wonderful. Just 10 years ago, if people remember, driving down Berry Street just past TCU’s campus was dangerous at best and kind of iffy at worst, so what they have done is extraordinary and I hope it continues all the way down to [Interstate] 35 and even over [Interstate] 35. A lot of what I’m running on is community activity and getting people more involved, and certainly Berry East is going to be an extraordinarily difficult thing but I think it has to be done. And I’m talking about all the surrounding areas, not just Berry, but I think that every area around TCU, as more and more students come and as more and more families come, we have to have facilities and businesses there that meet their demands and provide a safe, living city for them so that they do feel comfortable living in Fort Worth.
The interviews were part of a joint effort of the Schieffer School of Journalism and KERA-TV/KERA-FM and recorded at the school’s facilities. For more information, visit http://www.kera.org/radio/news/voters.php.
