Peck, Zoes agree on key issues in runoff

Note: This is the seventh in a series of stories about City Council runoff elections.

Two candidates with different approaches to politics but agreement on some key issues are facing off for the District A seat on City Council.

Amy Peck, a Houston native and seasoned staffer for termlimited District A Councilwoman Brenda Stardig, says she can best represent the constituents of the city’s northwestern district because she has spent years listening to their concerns and working for them.

George Harry Zoes, owner of Spring Branch wig shop Ruby’s Wig Salon, prides himself on not being a politician, saying his business experience has prepared him to best serve the interests of the community in which he was born and raised.

Peck, who is making her third run for the District A seat, finished well ahead of the six-candidate field on Nov. 5, but she heads to the runoff with secondplace Zoes.

“With over a decade of experience in resolving constituent issues, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated governmental agencies, and get results,” Peck said. “I have worked very closely with the residents of District A for many years, and I have the hands-on experience to help our community.”

The Bayou City native graduated from the University of Houston with a master’s degree in psychology in 2007. Before that, she earned bachelor’s de

grees in government and psychology from the University of Texas in Austin in 2006.

Zoes did not respond to requests for an interview. According to his campaign website, Zoes pursued a degree in business and marketing at the University of Houston-Downtown but learned his business skills from mentors and his parents’ restaurant business. He has decades of experience as a smallbusiness owner in the souvenir and gift industry, as well as the wig shop.

“With my 30 years experience I can bring a business approach to District A and cut out the red tape that currently exists,” reads Zoes’ campaign website. “We have the same politicians that are ineffective and run the city as if our tax dollars is their own money.”

Both candidates say following through with existing flood mitigation projects and spearheading new approaches to the issue is critical.

Peck called it the most important issue for the next council to tackle.

“Besides an extensive review of our current building codes and detention requirements, we need more infrastructure projects to mitigate flooding,” she said. “These projects are currently funded through a convoluted process that does not benefit District A. There is nothing fair about this process.”

Zoes said better planning must be implemented so the city is ready when the next flood comes.

“As … property owners we pay the drainage fees that Houston voters approved years ago,” Zoes say on his website. “Where is our money going, what is it wasted on?”

The candidate’s campaign has focused on “city corruption,” calling for internal audits of all city departments to curtail excess spending.

“It seems that City Hall has two sets of rules and rumors of corruption are quickly met with roadblocks,” his website says. “The city creates all sorts of road blocks when you try to audit their books, which, to me, shows corruption is involved.”

Refraining from increasing taxes and balancing the budget are other aims for the candidate.

Peck agrees it is time for Houston to review the efficiency of every city department, calling for the city to implement a sunset review program similar to the one used by the Legislature.

“It is time for our city departments to justify their budgets and their existence,” she said. “Under this plan, each department will have to go through a thorough audit with input from citizens. They will have to defend their performance.”

Departments that perform would stay, Peck said, and those that do not would be eliminated or “drastically changed.”

Peck said she does not want to eliminate the city’s voter-imposed revenue cap.

“Instead of spending more money, we need to first look at what we are spending now,” she said.

Peck said District A is the most populated of all council districts and should receive the most funding for infrastructure projects.

“In Fiscal Year 2019, District A was going to receive .59 percent of the available infrastructure funding,” Peck said. “We are not getting an even share or a fair share.”

Peck proposes splitting available infrastructure funds, with half going toward fixing the worst issues, no matter where they are in the city.

“The other 50 percent should be split evenly among each council district,” she said. “We all pay our taxes and deserve that money to come back to us in services.”

Both candidates also agree the city’s public safety agencies need more funding and resources.

“I have experienced the slow response and the ‘we can’t do anything’ response after my business was broken into,” Zoes said of the Houston Police Department. “They are here to protect us and they deserve their pay, pensions, and most of all our respect.”

Hc called the city’s government “overcomplicated” and said, if elected, he could fix its issues with his business sense.

Peck said if elected, she would continue the job she loves.

“I love serving the constituents of District A and am ready to do so as the next council member,” she said.

“I have worked very closely with the residents of District A for many years, and I have the hands-on experience to help our community.”

Amy Peck

“With my 30 years experience I can bring a business approach to District A and cut out the red tape that currently exists.”

George Zoes