Tina Bennett-Burton

The Branch Herald sent questionnaires to the candidates for the City of Farmers Branch City Council District 2 Special Election, which will be Nov. 5. The Branch Herald limited the number of characters allowed in responses for the questions that are highlighted. The Branch Herald used the Word Counter website to determine character count.

BIOGRAPHY

1. 1. Name: Tina Bennett-Burton
   2. Occupation: Owner/Doctor of A Honeycomb of Health in District 2
   3. Education: Doctor of Chiropractic
   4. Campaign Phone: 214-718-7832
   5. Email: tina@tinabennettburton.com
   6. Website: www.tinabennettburton.com
   7. Facebook: www.facebook.com/TinaBennettBurton
   8. X (formerly known as Twitter):
   9. YouTube:
   10. Instagram: TinaforFB

QUESTIONS

10. Length of residency in the City of Farmers Branch: 10 years
11. Why do you want to be a Farmers Branch City Councilmember? 
    I appreciate the opportunity to have a pivotal role in making a difference in my neighbor’s lives. I offer a unique perspective given that I am not only a resident, but a business owner.
12. How many Farmers Branch City Council meetings have you attended or watched online in the last year? ALL
13. Outside of regularly scheduled meetings and work sessions, how many hours per month do you think a Farmers Branch Councilmember should commit to the job?
    On weeks between meetings there is on average 10 hours of events, one-on-one, and resident communications. During weeks leading up to council meetings it can be as much as 30 hours that include reading the agenda and supporting documentation, independent research, one-on-ones with staff to communicate questions/concerns, resident input, etc. 
14. Have you served on any City of Farmers Branch boards or commissions? If so, which ones?
    Senior Advisory Board, City Council District 3 Councilwoman
15. What other civic responsibilities have you undertaken?
16. What other offices have you run for?
    City Council Woman representing District 3 from January 2023 – May 2024
17. What community organizations do you belong to?
    Farmers Branch Women’s Club
    Civic League
    Preston West Republican Women
    The Branch Church
18. What city leadership programs have you participated in?
    None
19. Name one specific new project or initiative you would like to see begun during your term. What actions are needed to implement it?
    I’m committed to seeing the EPA Lead and Copper Rule Revision to completion (drinking water).
20. What makes you the most qualified candidate in your race – and why?
    I have direct experience with the City Council as recently as May of this year as District 3 City Council Woman. ​
21. What do you think about the demo/rebuild program and the city’s renaissance programs? (500 characters)
    Explanations of these programs have not adequately been communicated to ALL residents nor their accessibility. Demo/rebuild program has a discrepancy that should be addressed. Different builders, same build timeline, same move in dates but different dates on their paperwork which would change their tax abatements, some dated 2019 others dated 2023. We should just give the incentive on the front, no tax abatements to forgo the risk to the resident of the assessed values skyrocketing.
22. How do you define “Affordable Housing?” (400 characters)
    Affordable Housing, mystical creature, paying 30% or less of one’s gross income (housing & utilities combined). In the past, apartments were considered entry-level and affordable. The West side of Farmers Branch does have plenty of apartments, not necessarily affordable ones. More will be coming online in the next 18 months.
23. How do you define the “Missing Middle?” (400 characters)
    The missing middle: duplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, multiplexes (not apartments), and homes under $350,000. Farmers Branch doesn’t have many of any of the aforementioned.
24. What can you, as a Council Member, do to improve the availability of affordable housing in Farmers Branch? (400 characters)
    Economic development should be aggressively pursuing investors, builders, along with state & federal funding to assist in our growth. The council should be acting in unity as a team to help our community continue to grow in a positive direction for all. That means we must also listen to what our residents want/need and communicate to them all we know to help them understand decisions.
25. To what extent should City Council follow and approve recommendations of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission?
    All boards serve at the leisure of the Council and in an advisory capacity. Qualified individuals should be appointed to the boards with an understanding of their directives from Council. Council should trust the boards are doing as appointed; however, this does not mean that Council must adopt the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, as City Council often has more information on the matters being discussed (i.e., executive session and attorney-client dialogue) that might alter decisions. 
26. How successful are the city’s current programs to address its aging infrastructure?  What would you change?  Please elaborate. The programs for replacing aging infrastructure are limited by funds. Available funding is contingent on individual councils’ priorities. For example, if a council has a priority of improving parks, funding for those priorities come first. If infrastructure is the council priority, parks or other services may take the back burner. There are “fund accounts” in place to make certain emergencies are covered and the bare minimum for infrastructure is covered. My priority is infrastructure. If we prioritize infrastructure (Sewage, LCCR, Streets) for the foreseeable future, while tightening the remainder of the budget, we can get caught up on aging infrastructure issues and then have a substantial tax reduction. My plan would be to ensure this is part of our Core Business Outcomes when the Strategic Planning Session is held.
27. What is the single biggest challenge facing our city today?
    Community division due to communications. The city leaders (staff & council) need to communicate clearly and concisely. Honestly, transparently, and courageously. We can agree to disagree with grace but no half-truths, half the information, manipulation to make residents feel better or worse. Just state the facts and let’s figure it out. 
28. What are Farmers Branch’s most valuable amenities or benefits that you will work to maintain or expand?
    Given that we have a diverse community, we must have diverse amenities that are tailored to all, thus, all our amenities are valuable. City leaders need to work to maximize the benefits of our current amenities.