UPCOMING EVENTS
We're facing some serious challenges.
Growth and development may be inevitable, but in the last two decades, over-development and the encroachment of San Antonio's commercial expansion northward has placed increasing pressure on Bulverde's water and natural resources, local schools, and roads. And it's getting worse.
My name is Francesca Watson, and I've owned a full-time working and teaching art studio in the Old Village of Bulverde since 2013. In 2014, my husband Nick retired for the last time after nearly 35 years of military and government service, and we moved from San Antonio to our final home in Oak Village North. I'm running for City Council Place 2, and I'm asking for your vote.
WHY I'M RUNNING
I was a vocal supporter of the movement to make Bulverde a Home Rule city in 2015, believing it would give us the best possible tools to protect our resources and manage the City's growth and development. But in the years since, the Texas Legislature has stripped away many of those tools, and each successive legislative session sees an accelerating erosion of our ability to protect our community from unchecked development and make decisions based on what is important to our citizens. In this year's legislative session alone, the summary document - the SUMMARY document - of proposed legislation affecting city governments in the State of Texas has grown to more than 300 pages. In addition to tying the City's hands in significant and detrimental ways, these legislative actions place an extraordinary and unnecessary administrative burden on our City staff. In 2024, I was appointed to the City's Charter Review Commission, and elected to be its Chair. The process was both eye-opening and discouraging. Where I saw an opportunity to make recommendations for needed change and clarity in the City's management and direction, others on the Commission advocated for the status quo. Our final report to City Council recommended making no changes to the City's Charter or operations. This experience cemented my decision to run for City Council.
WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE
I am a military spouse who moved around a lot because of my husband's years of service, offering me a wide variety of professional opportunities. I have worked extensively in small business management, working with law practices, real estate offices, and church congregations in office and executive administrative roles. I have worked as a paralegal for solo defense practitioners and large real estate and corporate practices. I spent five years in Washington DC working for a retired ambassador very active in foreign policy immediately before and immediately after the 9/11 attacks, where I engaged in extensive research and speech and article writing. I have been a small business owner in Bulverde since 2013; in addition to our live, in-person workshops and events, I currently serve an international online community of 5800 students in 82 countries. I am process-oriented and I approach most new undertakings with a curious and open mind. I learn quickly and am not afraid to acknowledge the things I don't know; I ask good questions, and approach problem-solving with a strategic, creative, and collaborative mindset. My extensive administrative and business management background will give me the necessary context and experience to establish good working relationships and engage effectively with City staff and Council members.
ABOUT MY CAMPAIGN
My campaign is entirely self-funded, and I am accepting no financial or in-kind services donations. Volunteers interested in helping me get the word out are always welcome; please use the contact form on this website to reach out for yard signs, postcards, or more information about how you can help.
I am asking for your vote on May 3. If elected, I will work to pursue the following priorities for our community:
Engage with County Commissioners and State Legislators to advocate for Bulverde's interests regarding development in the ETJ, which significantly impacts City resources.
Ensure Bulverde citizens and businesses can rely on clear, consistent processes and maximum transparency and accountability in their dealings with the City.
Pursue grants and matching funding to support the development of a Main Street economic development program, to include an expanded park system and a vibrant, walkable Downtown.
Prioritize responsible development that respects Bulverde's rural character and proactively mitigates and accounts for its impact on local infrastructure, schools, and natural resources.
Undertake a comprehensive review of existing City ordinances to eliminate contradictions and redundancies that may interfere with their efficient and effective application.
Develop a comprehensive floodplain management plan to include proactive flood mitigation and preservation of natural resources.
Please see the many videos on my Events and Videos page to more information about my position on these and other issues - or send me a message using my contact form and I'll respond promptly!
KEY DATES
Resources
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