Martha Tyroch TABA recently had a discussion with outgoing Temple Mayor Pro Tem Martha Tyroch.  The first part of the conversation was designed to reflect on her past endeavors and accomplishments.  The second part was designed to help our Home PAC trustees make a determination of support in the race for District 55. 

All of the candidates were asked the following questions during a recent forum our trustees hosted.  The following is the way Martha answered our questions.

Q:  TABA Home PAC is searching for an effective leader to represent our area in Austin.  Among our key considerations in our search will be to find a leader that adheres to our pro-growth, pro-business philosophies.  Can you provide our trustees with a general overview about your personal history of involvement with and support for the local development community?

A:  Over thirty years ago, I married into a family that had deep roots in the local Bell County community. My father-in-law was a builder and realtor in Temple, and my husband, Jerry Jr., sold real estate and served on the Board of Directors as president for the Temple Area Homebuilders Association, which is now called TABA. My family understood the positive impact that development has on a community, including how regulatory decisions can drive up the cost of homes, which in turn has an overall impact to the local economy.  As a member and later chair of the Temple Planning & Zoning Commission, I had responsibility for considering amendments to the City's subdivision ordinance, as well as approving plats and zoning changes. I've been a proponent of streamlining government regulations, creating an inclusive and inviting environment with thorough debate, and funding projects that support development in the community.

Q:  The passage of Proposition 15 ($3 billion Cancer Research funding) provides potential in terms of additional funding for Temple’s Scott & White Cancer Center, A&M Medical School, and Bioscience Institute.  What can be done by you as a freshman representative to make sure that Temple gets a fair share of that funding? 

I'll begin by doing my homework to find out exactly how the funding process will work. I will be a vocal advocate for Temple and Bell County in securing as much funding as possible for our medical research community. Temple is a rising leader in cancer research, both in the State of Texas and the United States. We also have three hospitals in Temple with existing oncology departments which treat cancer patients. We are fortunate to have academic institutions such as Temple College and Texas A&M Health Science Center.  Beginning this fall (2007), the Texas A&M Medical School will have a four year campus in Temple.  Temple also has one of the top cancer research facilities in the country at Scott & White's West Campus, with plenty of room to expand.  Most important, Temple already has the infrastructures, support groups, and educators necessary to fully benefit from state funding.

Q:  Toyota and Panda Energy have recently announced plans for facilities in Temple.  This should provide a tremendous boon to our local economy.  With economic development, communities are often pitted against each other and there is a great deal of competition involved in attracting new businesses.  How do you see the role of the State in helping cities to attract economic development? 

A:  I think our local communities will always play the most important role in economic development. Communities that strive for sustainable growth need to promote education, which we're already doing in Temple and Bell County.  However, neither communities nor the State can ignore the fact that we do live in an increasingly global economy. Our local businesses are competing with companies on the other side of the world, and one of the most important things we can do to ensure that businesses and jobs stay in Texas is to ensure that we have the kind of regulatory environment that attracts (and retains) businesses and jobs. As a councilmember I worked to ensure that we created a regulatory environment that encourages new development while ensuring that we continued to create a quality of life that would be attractive to workers and businesses. I think Texans have benefited greatly from the lack of a state income tax, and as a fiscal conservative, I would strongly oppose any policies that change State taxation or fee schedules that discourage new investment in Texas.
 
While creating an environment that is friendly to new development may be our most important economic development tool at the State level, I think as a practical matter the State of Texas has to make sure that cities and counties in Texas can compete with cities and counties in other states. The reality is that expanding businesses are often courted by many different states.  As your State Representative, I would work to ensure that we have laws that would give local governments the tools they need to build infrastructure.

Q:  The issue of toll roads has been a lightning rod for criticism in many areas of the state—particularly areas east of Temple that would be in your district.  What are your feelings about the Trans Texas Corridor?   If you are opposed to the toll road as it is currently presented, what alternatives should be considered for corridor expansion funding?

A:  Many Bell County residents have expressed their strong feelings against the Trans Texas Corridor. Many are concerned about the process that was followed, the company selected and about the lack of public participation in the process.

I will oppose the Trans Texas Corridor, unless the constituents locally approve any and all segments that affect this District. I am against tolling on existing roads and am against “land grabs” (eminent domain) by the Government.

For more about Martha, please click here.

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