Gonzales City Council, District 3 Candidates

The Gonzales City Council District 3 race will feature Lorenzo Hernandez facing off against Douglas Durham on the May 6 ballot.

The two candidates answered candidate questionnaires for the Gonzales Inquirer this week.

The candidates will be introduced and their responses to our questions will be given in ballot order. The responses have not been edited and are the words of the candidates in their entirety.

Name: Lorenzo Hernandez

Age: 72

Education: High school graduate.

Current Occupation: self employed 40 years.

Certifications held: N/a

Previously elected to any office: Gonzales City Council for 11 years, 2006-17.

Volunteer work or service in non-elected positions: Served on the Golden Crescent Board, 2007-2017; Serving on Texas Workforce Board from 2017 to current.

Name: Douglas Durham

Age: 64

Education: DeVry Institute of Technology, Hedden West Recording Studios (Recording Engineer training, Audio Engineering, Sound Design and Disc Mastering) ITIL Training, continuing education in Graphic Design and Social Media Marketing.

Current Occupation: Owner of the Saint James Bed and Breakfast, President of Icon Music, Owner of Angelo Garcia Wellness, Melaleuca Products Director

Certifications held: A+ Certification, Certified Life Coach for Katapult Enterprises

Previously elected to any office: N/A

Volunteer work or service in non-elected positions: I am an active member of the Chamber of Commerce as Vice President, Gonzales historic homes and the Rotary Club as Vice President and Treasurer.  I have done lots of Volunteer work, including Breakfast with Santa, Come and Fly it, Come and Take it, Float Fest, The Fly in, Installing new signage at the Disc Golf Course to name a few. I attend many of the Chamber ribbon cuttings to help welcome new business to Gonzales.

Tell us about why you are running for office?  

Hernandez: I feel that I am qualified because I’ve been in business for over 40 years and I have experience in dealing with budgets (done it for 11 years with the city).

Durham: I love the people and the City of Gonzales. I want to make a positive difference in improving our quality of Life, Infrastructure, Tourism, Rehabilitation and Economic Development. I would like to be the peoples voice and bring positive change to our City while working with our City officials. I want to represent the great people of our City without any personal agenda, bias or prejudice.   

What are the greatest strengths of the city of Gonzales in your opinion?

Hernandez: Of course, big businesses offer more jobs so they are the strength of the community, but mom and pops are just as important.

Durham: First and foremost, it’s the great people of Gonzales! Gonzales is located not far from major metropolitan areas like San Antonio, Austin and Houston.  We are in the middle of it all. We need to attract travelers to come visit our beautiful town, stay in our Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, eat in our restaurants, shop our downtown and take in our incredible History!

What are some of the biggest challenges currently facing the city of Gonzales?

Hernandez: Our city went from approximately 3 million dollars in debt to over 20 million. We need to see that that doesn’t happen again. Of course, high taxes are hurting everybody so we need to look at our rate very closely. If you cut spending, you don’t have to raise the rate.

Durham: There are many challenges that our City faces. Quality of life is very important to me. We need to improve the quality of life for the people who live here.  The citizens have asked for a skate park and dog park in the past.   We live in an old city with old infrastructure, which needs to be repaired and improved. Streets and sidewalks need to be repaired and sidewalks need to be added in some crucial traffic areas for pedestrians and the handicapped. Beautification of our downtown needs to be done.  We need to look at creating a more inviting downtown for our Citizens and our Visitors.    

What is your vision for the city of Gonzales five years from now? How about 10 years from now?

Hernandez: I don’t believe in long-term visions. I believe in annual budgeted projects. They are more effective in my opinion.

Durham: To continue to foster Economic growth and incentivize tax breaks for Retail and Housing development.

Now and into the future, I would like to see Gonzales grow but also keep its small town feel. We have so much great history here, so it would be beneficial for us to increase revenues through Tourism. Let’s tap into our incredible history and bring in Tourism dollars!

I would like to keep our town with that “Small Town” feeling.  I know that’s why people want to come here, but we’ve also got to realize that some big corporations like Tesla are close by and thus our City needs to be prepared for Growth at some point, and how to control it while still enhancing our small town feel and history.   

What do you think your role should be as a city councilman?

Hernandez: To oversee resolutions, ordinances and set the budget and the tax rate.

Durham: First and foremost to listen to and work hard for my constituents. Work together with City officials. I will be a Leader, Team Player and positive figure in our City Government.