City of Katy voters who live in Ward A had the opportunity to hear from the two candidates who are seeking to represent them, following the resignation of City Councilmember Dan Smith, who is running for Waller County Precinct 4 commissioner. A special election to replace Smith will be held January 31. Smith's resignation takes effect when either Bonin or Taylor is sworn into office, the term for which expires in 2027.

Candidates Paula Taylor, a teacher at Katy High School, and Cara Bonin, a contractor, spoke to a crowd of about 50 people on January 8 at Midway BBQ, 6025 Highway Blvd. in Katy. The event was hosted by the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and was moderated by President and CEO Matthew Ferraro

Taylor, a 40-year resident of the city, spoke first; her name will appear first on the ballot, Ferraro said. Taylor described coming to Katy for the first time and the strong old-fashioned hometown feeling she experienced and her desire to see that future generations have the chance to experience that same feeling. She has taught at KHS for 30 years and has served on the Keep Katy Beautiful board for ten years.

Bonin, who was born in Katy and has lived in the city for over 40 years, spoke next, citing her experience in speaking at city council meetings and serving as a Republican party precinct chair. Bonin said that she had a good understanding of what her neighbors were asking for and what they had not been able to get fixed through city government. Her goals are to update the city’s infrastructure and to control flooding.

Asked about the role of a city council member and how she would add value to the position, each candidate emphasized their accessibility to their constituents. Bonin said that she would help educate the public on how to navigate the system to help them find solutions to their needs. Taylor agreed with Bonin on the role of educating the public, and said that council, which she sees as the “legislative arm” of the city, should be bringing issues forth to the city for resolution.

In addressing the principles that guide their decision-making, particularly in the presence of conflict, Taylor answered with a recap of the battery storage controversy which faced council in 2024. Taylor noted that the facility would have brought in money for the city and the local school district but that residents did not want it, and she saluted current Councilmember Janet Corte for listening to her constituents and for her leadership in seeking additional information on that issue. Bonin said that she is guided constituents’ opinions, by the city charter and the Constitution in deciding what is best for the city as a whole, while “making sure that the little guy isn’t squashed.”

A decision by the city that Bonin said that she might have handled differently was a construction project on Third Street, which she said did not address the flooding issue for the entire surrounding neighborhood and which created parking for the entertainment district at taxpayer expense. Taylor said that she personally did not love the growth in warehouses and light industrial in the city along Cane Island Parkway and I-10, but that she understood that the tax revenue brought in by these ventures could help keep residential property taxes down. Taylor also expressed concern that the city’s

downtown parks have remained unchanged in spite of all the growth in the region but that she appreciated the city’s forthcoming development of Thomas Park, hiking and biking trails and other park programs.

Regarding plans to support the fire and police departments, Bonin said that the police department is getting what they want when they want it in terms of budget; she said that she wanted to ensure that the department is operating with transparency and integrity. Bonin cited a lot of turnover in the fire department and said that she wanted to ensure that they had all the training and equipment they needed. Taylor said that these public services need to grow as the population grows and that the city needs to maintain fast response, including possible addition of new substations.

To help make local businesses successful, Taylor that city government needed to encourage local businesses in every way that they could, including encouraging residents to “shop Katy first, eat Katy first, call a Katy roofer first…” and to encourage other businesses to move to the area. Bonin said that it was not the role of government to create jobs or to entice businesses but that “we need to create a community that is welcoming” through the development of infrastructure, from streets to sewage to clean water. Bonin cited problems in zoning and permitting and that the city needed to ensure that it streamlined these processes.

In closing, both candidates listed their top priority for Ward A and for the city as flood prevention and mitigation and each emphasized her accessibility to their constituents. Bonin said that she wanted to bring more people into the process and that she was available in person, online or via social media or one-on-one meetings at city hall. Bonin said that she wanted residents to “be at peace” and feel safe. Taylor said her top priorities were drainage projects and street repair, along with walkability to the downtown square, parks and events for families to enjoy, and the ability to move commuters quickly through the city. Taylor said that maintaining public safety, continuing flood mitigation and improving mobility were all of the highest importance, while not “taking away from our sense of place and what makes us ‘Katy proud.’”

Current council members attending the event were Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris, Councilmember Janet Corte and Councilmember Dan Smith. Neither the mayor nor the city administrator was present.

For more information on the candidates, please visit their social media pages:

· Paula Taylor: www.facebook.com/people/Paula-Taylor-Candidate-Ward-A/61585316741209/

· Cara Bonin: www.facebook.com/caraforkaty