On May 2, voters in the City of Katy will choose their representatives for the Ward B position (currently held by Rory Robertson, who is term-limited and cannot run again). The Katy Times posed the same questions to each candidate, and their answers are below for voters to consider. Candidates Payne, Meihls and Hunter Sullivan answered these questions via email; Lowry, at his request, answered these questions in a telephone interview on March 12.

Responses have been edited for length, clarity and adherence to AP style. Candidates are listed in the same order as on the City of Katy website.

WARD B: Michael Payne, Michael Meihls, Lyn Hunter Sullivan, and Roger Lowry

What propelled you to run for the Ward B council position?

PAYNE: It all started last year when I heard about injustice happening in our town and decided to run for mayor, coming completely out of nowhere to challenge Thiele but quickly gaining a small following and defying the odds with 13%/289 Votes despite everything working against me and a powerful incumbent who went uncontested the first time. But now I’m back after learning from my mistakes, improving community relations and name recognition to go after an open seat stronger and more confident than before.

MEIHLS: I’ve spent the past nine years serving on my HOA board, including seven years as president, working with residents on budgets, infrastructure improvements and community needs. Through that experience, many neighbors encouraged me to consider serving at the city level. With significant turnover on council this year, Katy will benefit from experienced leadership that understands how decisions affect residents. My experience in both community leadership and business management prepared me to step forward and serve.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: Leadership begins with listening. Ward B will be losing two council members who stayed engaged in the community and truly listened to their constituents -- our current Ward B representative and the At Large position. I will ensure that we continue that kind of responsive leadership for Ward B, and as a council member I will have a direct impact on the issues residents here face. What ultimately gave me the final push to run was a challenge I received while advocating for change in our city a few years ago: “Step up and do something about it.” I took that challenge to heart and did exactly that, working to help bring about positive change here in Katy. Now I have the opportunity to continue leading Katy through responsible growth and progress as your representative for Ward B.

LOWRY: I wanted to help my neighbors who live in Ward B.


What are your unique qualifications to represent Ward B on council?

PAYNE: up I’ve developed I.T. skills, recently graduated from HCC with an A.A.S. degree in Business Management, and have a rare skill of being brutally honest or telling the truth most of the time.

MEIHLS: My qualifications come from both community leadership and professional experience. I have nearly a decade of neighborhood governance experience, including seven years as HOA president, overseeing budgets and infrastructure improvements. Professionally, I spent roughly 20 years in manufacturing management and now operate my own business, where planning, budgeting and Lean Six Sigma process improvement are part of daily operations. Through my community work, I’ve also built relationships with leaders at City Hall and the Harris County Commissioner’s office, giving me insight into how local decisions impact residents.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: Having lived in the city of Katy for 40 years, I have seen many changes. I have experienced what Katy has to offer as a child, adult, parent, volunteer, business owner, and consumer. As a business owner, I have also had to make real-world decisions about budgeting, planning, and serving the needs of our community. This makes me uniquely qualified as a leader because I share the viewpoint of so many of our residents. That perspective, combined with my willingness to step forward and do the work, is the leadership I will bring to City Council. I have also been a community advocate and volunteer for many years, including serving on the City of Katy Animal Advisory Board. In addition, I have served in leadership roles on multiple executive boards and in various Chamber of Commerce roles, including the exploratory and initial organizational committees that created the now Fulshear Regional Chamber for Commerce. My professional background in marketing, publishing, and community engagement has also allowed me to work closely with local businesses and organizations across the Katy area. I have already been involved in positive changes that have helped move Katy forward and have experience working directly with local governments and organizations on public-facing projects. Those experiences have prepared me to represent Ward B with the same commitment to listening, service, and thoughtful leadership.

LOWRY: I talk to my neighbors and I go to all the meetings.

What is the most significant issue that needs to be addressed in Ward B?

PAYNE: See answers below because while I might be running for Ward B, I’m thinking about the entire city and believe its issues apply to everyone.

MEIHLS: The most significant issue is managing growth while protecting the quality of life Katy residents expect. Growth is positive, but only when infrastructure and city services keep pace with development. When planning falls short, we sometimes see projects that must be rebuilt shortly after completion, which frustrates neighbors and wastes taxpayer dollars. My priority is proactive planning that addresses these needs before they become problems. This helps ensure Katy remains a community we are proud to call home.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: One of the most significant issues facing Ward B is ensuring that residents’ voices remain part of the conversation as Katy continues to grow and change. Many families in Ward B have

seen rapid development, construction, and growth outside the city, and they want to know that their priorities are being heard as decisions are made. While Katy has made important progress in areas like flood mitigation, continued development north of the city will bring new pressures on roads, drainage, and other infrastructure. I also want to ensure that road projects already approved and planned move forward efficiently and are completed in a timely manner to minimize disruptions to the quality of life in Ward B. Thoughtful planning and listening to residents will be critical in this process.

LOWRY: Everyone working together to do a good job of bringing businesses to downtown Katy.

What are the three most significant issues facing the City of Katy as a whole?

PAYNE: 1. Taxation and spending: Since fiscal year 2012 City of Katy’s budget has nearly quadrupled from about $20 million to $78 million (with 2/3rds of it occurring since COVID in 2020), and over the past five years property tax rates only dropping 2 cents per $100 while valuations had their fastest increase in history. Now let me ask readers this question: “Do you feel better or worse about the state of City of Katy today compared to 5 or 10 years ago?” My solution is to propose significant property tax cuts to no more than 75% of current rates for most, eliminating for seniors 65+, and demand an independent audit of FY19-FY25 to see exactly where our taxpayer dollars are going. 2. Governance: From Katy Market Days to Bypassing our charter commission… city council has been making erratic decisions for far too long so it’s time to bring back common sense by restoring transparency, integrity and responsibility in daily decisions and real accountability if things do go wrong.3. Infrastructure: Every so often you’ll hear complaints about sediment mixing in with the water, certain areas continuing to flood, stretches of road without any or incomplete sidewalks, concerns about potholes or buckling roads, etc. We need to continue investing and shift funding to what’s most critical to ensure safety and maintaining quality of life for our residents.

MEIHLS: First, managing Katy’s continued growth responsibly so infrastructure and city services keep pace with development. Second, focusing on mobility, as traffic and road capacity require thoughtful planning and coordination with developers, residents and government partners at the city, county and state level. Third, maintaining the high level of services residents expect, including public safety, drainage, water management and public works. Katy has been successful because it plans carefully and invests in its community. Continuing that approach will help ensure the city remains strong as it grows.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: Three of the most significant issues facing the City of Katy are improving permitting processes, maintaining transparency and oversight in city decision-making, and planning for transportation and mobility as our city grows. Residents and businesses rely on a permitting process that is efficient and predictable. When the process becomes overly complicated, it slows projects, discourages contractors from working within the city, increases the cost of improvements, and creates unnecessary challenges for both homeowners and small businesses. Local government should support the people it serves, not create barriers that make everyday projects more difficult than they need to be. Strong checks and balances between the recommendations made by city boards and the decisions made by council help maintain transparency and public confidence in city leadership. Listening to residents is also important when it comes to decisions that affect our city. As Katy continues to grow, we must plan carefully for roads, traffic flow, and signalization so people can move safely and efficiently throughout

the city. Thoughtful coordination of road projects and traffic planning will be essential to keeping Katy connected and accessible as development continues.

LOWRY: Getting businesses to move here, working with the community and working with the other city council members.

The information packets prepared for each council meeting are large and detailed. How do you plan to prepare for council meetings and what additional outside research will you do?

PAYNE: First of all, I’m going to push for CoK to publish agenda summaries on social media within 24 Hours after posting through official channels so more residents can be civically aware of what’s going on at various meetings. Now, as for me, I’ll discuss important issues with my constituents, carefully review the full documents, and if any confusion arises, ask questions to relevant person(s) or department(s) for clarity.

MEIHLS: If elected, I will approach council decisions using the same disciplined process I use in my business and community leadership. I will review each council packet carefully, identifying key issues and questions using Lean Six Sigma problem-solving principles. I also believe in going beyond the paperwork by visiting project sites and speaking directly with residents affected by proposed projects. In addition, I will consult subject-matter experts to fully understand the impacts of major decisions. That approach helps ensure council decisions are thoughtful, informed and responsible.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: Serving on council requires taking the time to fully understand the issues before making decisions that affect our community, and that kind of preparation has always been central to how I approach important decisions. When I do not know enough about a subject, I learn. I research. I ask questions. I listen. Residents deserve decisions that are thoughtful and well informed. I will review council packets carefully and conduct additional research to fully understand how decisions will impact Katy. That preparation also includes speaking with residents, city staff, and others directly affected, as well as looking at how other cities have addressed similar issues. This is the same approach I have already used when studying and forming opinions on issues affecting our city. This kind of research and preparation is an area where I am especially strong, and it allows me to approach decisions with confidence that they are well informed.

LOWRY: I’ll get the package and look at it and read it.

What else should readers of the Katy Times know about you and your plans for the City of Katy?

PAYNE: I’m 24, mildly on the autism spectrum, and ready to get to work in making this town the absolute best it can be, because we might have two wards separating us politically [but] there’s only one City of Katy where we live, work, shop, dine, and come together as a community.

MEIHLS: Katy benefits from steady, experienced leadership, especially during periods of change. For nearly a decade I’ve served in neighborhood governance, making real decisions about budgets, infrastructure and improvements that directly impact my neighbors. Combined with roughly 20 years of management experience and running my own business, I bring a practical and thoughtful approach to decision-making. My goal is simple: protect what makes Katy strong while planning responsibly for the growth ahead.

HUNTER SULLIVAN: As someone who has lived in Katy for decades and raised my family here, I have seen our community grow and change while still holding onto the qualities that make it special. I want to help ensure those qualities remain part of Katy’s future. I have spent many years serving this community through volunteer work, boards, and involvement with local organizations. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for the people who make Katy what it is today. I am running for City Council because I care deeply about this community and the future we are building here together. When issues arise, I step forward, learn the details, and work to be part of the solution. I will continue to do so when I am elected to serve my neighbors in Ward B.

LOWRY: I’m retired and I plan to be a full-time councilmember, not a part-time one.