Wins on Saturday by Flower Mound Town Council candidates Sandeep Sharma and Jim Engel could send a message to developers that they should slow their roll.
Sharma defeated Albert Picardi with 57-percent of the vote in the Place 2 race.
Jim Engel prevailed in the three-way contest for the Place 4 seat with 55-percent of the vote. Incumbent Don McDaniel garnered only 33-percent and newcomer Tony Lawrence claimed 12-percent.
The election came on the heels of Town Council’s approval of the Lakeside Village development containing a mix of uses, including residential and office high rise towers.
Some residents feel that the pace of urbanization has quickened in the past several years as Southgate, The Point, and Lakeside Crossing have been approved.
When asked why he believes people voted for him, Engel replied: “Residents were dissatisfied with the direction the town has been headed; the apartments and multi-family developments.”
Sharma, who served on the Planning & Zoning Commission, said his goal for Flower Mound is to, “preserve its unique country atmosphere, heritage and quality of life, while cultivating a dynamic economic environment.”
He added that he wants to put the town’s decisions back into the citizen’s hands.
“During my term as council member, I would like the residents to regain the faith in the town’s processes and procedures, feel respected at the Town Hall and not be afraid to speak-up,” he said. “Similarly, I will encourage the staff to express, not what the council possibly wants to hear, but what indeed is right.
“As complex and high-stake agenda items come forward, I will work with other council members and the Town Manager to make sure we engage all the stakeholders; to come-up with the most optimal solution. My approach would be that we negotiate– and negotiate hard– to benefit the town and it’s residents. Every dollar of our hard-earned money is invested in this town to make it the most-desirable home for us; and, we are not giving it away.”
.jpg)
.jpg)
