Election: Woodlands Township Board of Directors Member John McMullan
Name: John McMullan Profession: Practicing attorney with Winstead P.C. in The Woodlands. Age: 43 Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, with The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Member John McMullan running unopposed for the Position 5 seat on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors. McMullan, who serves as the board’s vice chairman, was first elected to the board in 2013.
The Villager posed a series of questions to McMullan. Here are his responses. Question: What would you consider are your biggest accomplishments since you were elected to the Board of Directors? McMullan: 1. Reducing the Township tax rate from 29.4 cents per $100 of property valuation to 23 cents.
2. Being the first elected official to oppose the May 2015 Road Bond that included the Woodlands Parkway extension, which would have required our residents to spend millions of their tax dollars to worsen their traffic.
3. Constructively working with our Board Members (especially Director Ann Snyder and former Chair Ed Robb) to acquire the former Creekside YMCA center that now serves as the Recreation Center at Creekside Park.
4. Establishing an incorporation reserve that can be applied to the yet to be determined costs associated with The Woodlands becoming a city.
Question: What do you think are the two top issues facing The Woodlands? McMullan: 1. Constructively working with governments who possess the budgets to address our flooding issues and engaging with other entities to work on improvements for those areas.
2. Ensuring that The Woodlands remains a safe community.
Question: What are your longer term goals for The Woodlands?
McMullan: My medium term goals for The Woodlands are as follows:
1. Setting an example of responsible and responsive government.
2. Evaluating the pros and cons of opening a branch of The Houston Museum of Natural Science in The Woodlands and, if appropriate, working to secure funding for the science museum.
3. Evaluating and publicizing the pros, cons and changes associated with The Woodlands becoming a city.
Question: Concerning the Creekside Park flooding, what can The Woodlands Township Board of Directors do, if anything, to help resolve the MUD issues or flooding in The Woodlands?
McMullan: My hope and expectation is that the Township will retain an engineer who can advise us as to measures that would be effective. We should constructively work with governments who possess the budgets to address our flooding issues and engage with other entities to work on improvements for those areas.
Question: Regarding your Facebook posting concerning the issue involving Board of Directors Member Gordy Bunch and the Confederate statues, you wrote, in part, “We were shocked to learn of the suggestion that Confederate statues and plaques from the State Capitol and elsewhere be brought to The Woodlands. Whether made in jest or in seriousness, let us be clear—there are no circumstances under which we will support bringing these monuments to our community. We will fight any such proposal. You have our word.” Has the issue had any impact on your ability to work with Bunch on any township matters?
McMullan: As to the Confederate statues, there is no impediment to me working with any director. That issue is behind us, and we are moving forward. It is an honor to serve The Woodlands.