Rich Krause
(HEATH, TX – Feb. 19, 2021) Rich
Krause, community leader and 26year Heath resident, has announced his candidacy
for Re-Election to Heath City Council, Place 6 in the May 1, 2021 election.
Krause currently serves on Heath City
Council, Place 6 and said he looks forward to continuing his service to the
citizens of Heath.
“I hired on at E-Systems (Now L3Harris)
in 1990. My 30+ years of Program, Material, Subcontracts and Quality Management
gives me a unique perspective on the various stake holders and processes
related to operations. I have augmented this with over 60 hours of training with
the Texas Municipal League including 1 of only 62 in all TX Municipal
Government employees and volunteers to graduate from their Texas Municipal
League Leadership Academy in 2014. I believe good business practice is
essential in operating our city. These insights have already been utilized to
save Heath taxpayers money by insisting on greater competition for contracts on
service and construction better negotiating.
“My goal as a City Councilmember is to
continue serving current Heath citizens as the #1 customer. I have always supported
high quality, low density development. Even when we had a developer run council
and I was the only vote in opposition to developments that are not consistent
with our comprehensive plan (which I helped update in 2008 and 2018).”
As a 26-year resident from when
Heath had 2K people, I have seen the good bad and ugly in our growth. Our city
manager and staff depend on the council for vision, guidance, sound principle,
policy and practices to maintain and improve our growing city. I am adamant
that we do this with transparency and integrity while not selling out on our
wonderful city staff and citizens.
I have no direct or indirect
conflict of interest with No Personal or Financial gain in any developments. My
income has always come from defense contracting in reconnaissance and
anti-terrorism, a very honorable and unrelated industry located outside
Rockwall in Hunt county.
Krause has
a significant record of volunteer involvement in our city and county since 1999
having served in many leadership roles and organizations including: Heath
Park Board, Heath Board of Adjustments and Heath Comprehensive Plan Committee,
Chairman of Rockwall County Republican Party Precinct 2C, Leadership Rockwall
Class of 2015 renovating the Meals On Wheels facility, 2006/2007 Rockwall ISD
Bond Election Steering Committee, Chairperson of 2010 Census Committee, County
of Rockwall Grand Jury, Vice President of Rockwall County Republican Men’s Club
and President of Antigua Bay Home and Property Owners Association.
Krause believes in continual
learning obtaining an AAS/Business Management at Richland Community College, BS/Human
Relations and Business Management from Amber and MBA/Strategic Leadership from
Amberton University. Additionally Rich has accumulated over 100 hours of
company training and 60 hours of Texas Municipal League city council training. No
day job can teach and train the unique skills required for excellence in community
service.
Rich was married to Heather Krause 34
years before she sadly and suddenly passed away in 2017, has two children that
grew up in Heath, and five grandchildren. Ashley and her two children reside in
Heath as did his father before passing away in 2019. “I may not have been in
Heath 4 generations, but I have moved 4 generations to Heath!”
Accomplishments on Heath City Council
include: Consistently fought for high quality low density development. Only high-quality
boutique commercial and retail. As the Council Liaison to the Park Board I insisted
on consistently imposing impact and fee in lieu or land for parks at final platting.
Increased the cost for developers on fee in lieu for Parks and now includes
park development vs just dedicating land for the citizens to pay for
improvements. Our first developer
provided park is near completion in Heathland Crossing. Insisted that park fees
be broken out and reported separately to the Park Board and in the city budget.
Updated the Park and Trail plan to best utilize growth, preventing lost
opportunity. Initiated the Parks and Trails of Heath (PATH) program in 2020 that
has already raised over $30,000 and added improvements including shade trees,
park benches and water station in the Heath Town Center Park.
Initiated public notice on fence
variances for transparency to prevent surprised property owners when neighbors
exceed height and or visibility requirements. Initiated additional fees for
those requesting after the fact variances or conditional use permits. Improved
detail and clarity in reporting from Heath departments, construction and
service request for proposals, proposal evaluations and contracts with
increased detail and competition. Recruited and mentored the local contractor
who installed Heath’s beautiful street signs funded by our HEDC/HMBC, well
within cost and schedule, after the city received multiple no bids for the
project. Recruited many current and past talented members of the EDC, P&Z,
Special Events and Board of Adjustments.
Anticipated challenges include:
Completing street and infrastructure improvements while the city develops over
2600 new residential lots. Implementing the latest Comprehensive Plan, Park and
Trail Plan and related ordinances. Completing the new Town Center Overlay District
Master Plan. Increasing enforcement of development standards and ordinances to
assure compliance. Keeping city council and staff focused on the Citizens vision
of Heath by preventing developers and related associates from regaining control
of Our City Council. Supporting our awesome Heath Department of Public Safety
as we grow with needed staffing, equipment, and facilities.