Quail Valley resident Kevin Tunstall, candidate for Missouri City council At-Large Position 2, says he would like to see a change in the direction of the city, and says if elected he would focus on improving infrastructure and cutting spending in an effort to lower taxes. “I don’t like the direction our city is going. I haven’t for a while,” said Tunstall. “I don’t believe the city should be doing all this crisis management – I think they should be more proactive in solving the problems before they are a crisis…I don’t like the mothods used by the people who are in charge right now, so I want change.”

Tunstall, who has lived in the city for seven years and owns a health care company, ran and lost against District C councilwoman Barbara Gibson in last year’s election. He faces incumbent Buddy Jimerson as well as candidate Willie Harvey, III in this year’s election. He says the state of the city’s infrastructure will eventually drive down property values if not addressed.

Kevin Tunstall files to run for At-Large Position 2 council seat
Missouri City resident Kevin Tunstall filed at around 1 p.m. Friday to run for the At-Large Position 2 seat in Missouri City.
Tunstall will challenge incumbent Councilman Buddy Jimerson for the position.

May 10, 2007, 7:13PM

By ZEN T. C. ZHENG
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Candidates running for the District C council seat said their desire to obligate the city to repair sidewalks in front of residents' homes propelled them to run for office.

Incumbent Bob Burton did run for re-election.

Barbara Gibson, 61, president of the Lakes of Brightwater subdivision homeowners association, and Kevin Tunstall, 42, a health-care administrator who lives in Quail Valley, want to change municipal law to require the city instead of homeowners to repair damaged sidewalks.

The issue, which began in the First Colony neighborhood, triggered residents' protest against the law and prompted city officials to form a study group, which has recommended that the city be responsible for repairs.

May 8, 2007, 2:04PM
City delays action on sidewalks due to election

By SESHADRI KUMAR
Chronicle Correspondent

City Manager Frank Simpson told Missouri City City Council Monday night that he has allocated $150,000 in the preliminary 2007-08 municipal budget for sidewalk repairs in anticipation of the city taking over the responsibility of walkway maintenance.

City Council had an agenda item to receive the status report and authorize staff to amend ordinances relating to sidewalks as recommended by the sidewalk subcommittee.

But, the council could not act on the item as outgoing Councilman Bob Burton, in whose district the sidewalk repairs and the infrastructure ordinance have become an election issue, wanted to table the item.
Both the candidates have some ideas on the issue. As my term ends, my participation won't continue. Let my successor have an opportunity to fully participate in the debate, Burton said.

May 5, 2007, 5:53AM

Sidewalk repair stirs up District C race in Missouri City

By SESHADRI KUMAR
Chronicle Correspondent

The maintenance of sidewalks in Missouri City has become an election issue, at least in the District C open council seat, where Kevin Tunstall and Barbara Gibson are locked in a fight to succeed Councilman Bob Burton.

Sidewalk repair grabbed headlines in February.

About 60 people filled the City Council chamber on Feb. 7 to oppose a 1974 city law that requires homeowners to pay for the repairs of sidewalks in front of their properties. Residents say the city should pay. The subcommittee of City Councilmen Don Smith, Jerry Wyatt and Brett Kolaja said it would seek opinions of residents throughout the city.

At a mid-March subcommittee meeting, Wyatt, committee chair, said city staff recommendations were accepted to have the city repair sidewalks and to earmark funds in next year's budget, beginning July 1.