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Edwards seeks to do his part
By Blaine Crimmins, bcrimmins@starlocalnews.com
Place 1 city council candidate Stephen R. Edwards Sr. feels he’s reached a point in his life where he can give back to the community in which he’s lived for the past 20 years.
Edwards has no previous municipal experience but is the cofounder and copartner of Texas Corporate and Family Investigations.
"I am running for city council to use my business experience and knowledge to build upon the efforts of others in developing our community into an economically sound, safe and quality place to live," Edwards said. "I have not served in a municipal capacity (but) I believe this is a plus as I would be able to bring a new perspective and new ideas to the council."
"The Colony has seen considerable growth and has a number of opportunities to continue growing," Edwards said. "These opportunities, when carefully allocated and maintained within budget, can translate into residents enjoying life in an efficiently run community. I would like to do my part to see that these opportunities benefit the entire community."
If elected, Edwards said he would work to maintain the city’s status as a safe city.
"The Colony has a low crime rate when compared to other comparable cities. There is nowhere in The Colony that I do not feel safe at any time. This is something we should always strive to protect," he said.
Edwards also said he would seek to find the balance between economic growth and quality of life. While new business would always be encouraged, maintaining the city’s "small-town neighborhood feel" is important, too.
"I would advocate for business-friendly policies so new businesses want to come to our community," he said. "New business would provide access to services our residents need and enjoy, while contributing to paying off our debt, building up our financial reserves and then being used to enhance services the city can provide."
Among services residents already enjoy are the many sports facilities, parks, walking and biking routes, and city events scheduled throughout the year, Edwards said.
"Our convenient access to Lewisville Lake allows residents to participate in any number of activities and build community," he said. "I would promote solutions that continue to provide residents the availability to participate in and enjoy these types of activities."
Although he is an advocate for enhancing quality of life, Edwards also believes in fiscal responsibility and is concerned about the city’s level of debt from past bond initiatives.
"We have a responsibility to eliminate this debt in a reasonable and effective manner while still providing services," he said. "It is a difficult task to maintain the balance ... (but) I would work with all city officials to review the needs of our community and work to provide appropriate city services to meet those needs without placing additional economic burdens on residents."
Edwards added he would also look for opportunities to have contracts renegotiated or terminated if they are not meeting the standards of service desired for the city.
As a city council member, Edwards says he would prioritize review of the city’s code enforcement procedures so they become more homeowner friendly.
"I agree there should be codes, inspections and permits that maintain the quality and safety of our homes. However, being charged with a code violation and then having to pay to get a permit to fix the violation seems to be inconsistent with the intent of code enforcement," he said.
Edwards was a tank commander, platoon sergeant and recruiter in the U.S. Army for eight and a half years, where he says he learned leadership skills and the value of hard work and teamwork.
Edwards has lived in The Colony since 1992, when he moved to the city with his children, Stephen Jr. and Randi. He married Tracy Edwards in 1995, and they have one teenage daughter, Samantha.
Edwards attends Freedom Life Church. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas in 2007 with a degree in criminal justice.
The Edwards family enjoys hiking, camping and visiting our national parks. Edwards said he enjoys working on vintage cars and rides a 1989 Soft-tail Springer Harley Davidson as a member of the American Legion Riders.
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