Gonzales invited to ‘Q&A with the mayor’

Gonzales Mayor Connie Kacir would like to cordially invite you to discuss city government over a refreshment or two. After being pitched as “coffee with the mayor” earlier this month, the renamed “Q&A with the mayor” finally looks to be a go.

With formal support from the Gonzales City Council received on Jan. 23, the first forum is set for Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 5:15 p.m. at Robert Lee Brothers Jr. Memorial Library. The forum will last one hour and will feature the mayor along with many other key figures in the city’s government to answer questions. Refreshments for the event will be provided by GVEC.

“My sole and sincere heartfelt reason for doing this is aimed at correcting misinformation that is disseminated at times and we all know that’s an issue that the world deals with,” Kacir said.

Attendees seeking to ask questions are encouraged to submit them to city hall or directly to City Manager Tim Patek at citymanager@gonzales.texas.gov by end of the day Feb. 5 to provide city officials ample time to research and formulate an answer. However, questions non-previously submitted questions will also be allowed.

“I have no authority to bind the council as a body at these presentations to any matters or action that would require action of the full council,” Kacir said clarifying the forum.

Members of the Gonzales Inquirer editorial staff will moderate the event. Kacir hopes the event will “increase transparency” with the city government and its constituency. She also said she hopes to hold these forums on a “regularly-scheduled basis.”

Though the council’s approval was not needed for the event to move forward, Kacir placed a resolution for consideration on the Jan. 23 meeting agenda for “disclosure.”

“I bring this to you, for your endorsement, just to assist in carrying out the duties of the city charter by supporting future progress of our city as a spokesperson in community meetings that would be open to the public,” Kacir said.

Before the vote, Councilman Tommy Schurig spoke on making himself accessible to members of the community.

“I believe I’ve addressed issues with people out in the county also and in different districts. If somebody wants to talk to me, they can get ahold of me,” Schurig said. “I don’t like to talk on the phone if somebody has something to say I want to meet them face to face.”

The resolution passed with a 4-0 vote. Councilman Bobby O’Neal was not present at the Jan. 23 meeting and, in turn, did not vote.

Robert Lee Brothers Jr. Memorial Library is located at 301 Saint Joseph St., Gonzales, Texas 78629.