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'NFL' to run for re-election
(updated) By Chris Roark, croark@acnpapers.com
As many had expected, Flower Mound Mayor Melissa Northern, Mayor Pro Tem Al Filidoro and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Steve Lyda announced Wednesday that they are seeking re-election.
Filidoro said the three candidates plan to file for re-election Friday morning.
So far, Northern, who is completing her first term, has two opponents. Councilman Tom Hayden filed to run for mayor Feb. 7. Retired resident Alan Cloud filed on Feb. 20.
Filidoro, who has been on the council since 2007, is hoping to retain his seat in Place 2. Bryan Webb, who has served on various boards and commissions, has filed to run against Filidoro.
Lyda, completing his first term, is seeking re-election in Place 4. Lyda has not officially drawn an opponent.
The trio, known as "NFL," won the 2010 election in large part because of their campaign against urban gas drilling. That election brought out a record number of voters.
Since that election, the town saw significant changes in regard to gas drilling, such as the creation of an Oil and Gas Advisory Board and ultimately changes to the Oil and Gas Drilling Ordinance, which among other things increased the required setbacks at drilling locations.
"Council members Filidoro and Lyda worked tirelessly with me to bring an oil and gas ordinance to the table that the gas industry and the pro-gas drilling organizations acknowledged the curtailment of gas wells in Flower Mound and made the gas drillers seek sites elsewhere," Northern said.
Northern and Filidoro also lobbied against urban gas drilling and for local control.
"Upon entering office, I established and organized the town's first comprehensive monitoring and lobbying efforts against gas drillers' encroachment, enlisted area communities to join with us and encouraged residents to contact their state legislators," Northern said. "Whether my efforts led me to Flower Mound or Austin, I went wherever it was necessary to fight drillers' efforts to undo the nationally recognized protections we had just enacted to our new local gas ordinances."
Lyda said this year's election will also be key since it will likely include amendments to the town's charter, such as one that requires a supermajority vote to change the gas drilling ordinance.
"We still have one more step to ensure that our efforts will not be easily undone by future councils," Lyda said. "Pro-drilling advocates, pro-gas residents, a current council member and a council candidate worked to stop the residents' right to vote on the charter changes in May but were unsuccessful thanks to the diligence and professionalism of the Charter Review Commission and the outpouring from our residents who demanded the right to vote on these changes."
NFL lists other accomplishments during its administration, including a new solid waste contract with Waste Management, which includes recycling, bulk pickup and door-to-door hazardous waste pickup options. The new five-year contract is expected to save the town $7 million, Filidoro said.
"When first in office, I identified a need to improve our waste services and lead the council and town staff in defining new service criteria and in opening up the bidding process to all solid waste vendors," Filidoro said. "While solid waste is not one of those dramatic issues, I am proud to say that my efforts greatly impacted and improved services to our residents."
NFL also points to completed road projects, such as portions of FM 1171, Flower Mound Road and Morriss/Gerault Road, that has taken place in the last two years.
"Improving our modality and traffic flow is one area that I have concentrated much of my time and energy," said Lyda, a former transportation commission chairman.
NFL candidates also said they have and want to continue targeting economic development.
"With targeted and sustainable economic development, we have been moving toward a place that is recognized as a medical community and one that is promoting diversity in retail economic growth," Northern said. "Flower Mound has positioned itself to take advantage of the economic upturn by building a first-rate infrastructure and being prepared for new projects when the retail and commercial sectors begin to expand in the DFW Metroplex."
NFL points to several examples, including the new grocery stores that are planned to open in the future and a medical community that continues to expand with the construction of new office buildings and a new tower along FM 2499. Northern also noted the Lakeside Business District is 93 percent occupied.
Early voting runs from April 30 to May 8. The NFL candidates said they will again work together throughout the campaign as they did in 2010 when the "NFL" phrase was coined.
"Even though we campaigned as individuals who were pooling resources together to save money, the community continued to link us together and call us 'NFL,'" Northern said. "It was not our intention to run as a team, but our backgrounds complemented each other in such a way that it was a win for us and for Flower Mound. We will continue to work together to do what is right for this community."
She is also vice chairperson of the Flower Mound Community Development Corporation-Parks Funding Board, as well as the Wellington HOA Finance Board and Special Committees.
She also sits on the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) Board and is an ex-officio member of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce. She also organizes the Denton County Mayors quarterly luncheons.
Filidoro, an attorney, has served on the town's planning and zoning commission, he is past president and vice president of the Summit Club of Flower Mound and is a member of the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce and the Flower Mound Rotary Club.
Lyda is a software engineer and serves as chairman of the Wellington Home Owners Association finance committee and is past treasurer of the Summit Club.
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