Foulds files for Mayor in 2020

Bill Foulds, current Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Dripping Springs, has filed for the office of Dripping Springs Mayor in the May 2 election. 

Foulds decided to run for mayor after he learned that Mayor Todd Purcell had decided to step down after 19 years in office, and not seek re-election.

“After I learned that Mayor Purcell had decided not to seek re-election, I decided to run because I’m the most qualified,” Foulds said in an interview with the Century News. “I have a great deal of experience on the council, I was involved with the founding of the Parks and Recs Commission in the late 1990’s, and I’ve been Mayor Pro Tem for the past 8 years. I know where the city has been, plus I’m one of the architects of the vision of where we’re going. I’d like to see those things continue. 

Foulds has served on the DS City Council since 2001. His current elected office for Place 3 on the City Council expires in 2021. According to Foulds, he is not required to resign his current position in order to run for mayor.

If elected, Foulds said his top three priorities would be transportation, city employees, and the proposed “Town Center” or TIRZ.

“Transportation would be my number one priority,” Foulds said. “Now that wastewater is moving forward, the most common concern from our residents that I hear about is infrastructure, the roads, how and when we are going to improve them. I’d like to work together with the state and county to move things along. Make them more aware of our needs, become more involved with CAMPO [Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization], and the use of state funds—most of our roads are state funded.”

“We’ve had discussions with our Pct. 4 Hays County Commissioner on ways FM 150 may be expanded going southwest of town, and providing another connection to help traffic avoid the intersection of Hwy 290 and Ranch Road 12,” Foulds said. “We’ve already provided one alternative through Rob Shelton Blvd [connecting Founders Park Road with Hwy 290 and Sports Park Road], and the Heritage Development will soon provide another alternative in the northwest corner by circling around the high school stadium and connecting Hwy 290 and Ranch Road 12. It’s important to have proper planning. If a city or county has identified an area for transportation improvements it’s easier to require a developer to participate.”

Foulds second priority would be city employees. “I want to make sure our city staff and employees are equipped with the tools they need to take care of our city,” Foulds said. “We have to invest in our city employees and equipment. With all our growth, things are very different than when I first started. Then we had only 2 employees and we were leasing office space.”

The third priority would be the Town Center. “We’ll know a lot more in the in the next three months, hopefully by the end of March,” Foulds said. “The parties to the proposed Town Center are the City, The Dripping Springs ISD, the Dripping Springs Community Library, and the county.”

Foulds run for mayor is endorsed by the current mayor, “When I shared my decision to step down with Bill Foulds, and he mentioned his interest in running for mayor, I was very pleased,” Mayor Todd Purcell said in a statement to the Century News. “With Bill we’ll get a seamless transition. He’s a great guy and he has served as Mayor Pro Tem for the last eight years. He is aware and  up to the challenges that lay ahead for our Dripping springs community.”

“It was a personal decision to step down at this time it has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Dripping Springs” Purcell said. “My wife and I have decided that it was time for other things. The City is in great shape and we’ve accomplished a great deal in the past 19 years. I still love Dripping Springs, and my wife and I aren’t going anywhere. I’ll still be around, and be involved—and because of our continued interest in Dripping Springs, I’m supporting Bill’s run for mayor. He has the best interest of the city in mind.”

At time of press, there have been no other filings for the office of mayor, according to Andrea Cunningham, City Secretary. Foulds filing for mayor was received by the City on January 23. In the filing, Foulds lists his occupation as business owner [Deep Eddy Rug & Carpet Cleaners].

Candidate filing period began on Jan. 15, for two city council seats and one mayoral seat, for the May 2 election. The filing deadline for candidates is Friday Feb. 14, at 5 p.m. Currently serving in the pending election positions are Mayor Todd Purcell, Council Member Wade King for Place 2, and Council Member John Kroll for Place 4.

Twitter: @John_E_Pacheco