NAME: PENNY BURCK
Office seeking (number of years in office if incumbent): City Council
Campaign phone number: 830-225-- 0901
Campaign email address: [email protected]
Campaign website or social media page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574179074893
Occupation: Arborist
Education: Master of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University
Have you held elective office? If so, what office(s) and how long? No, but was on the Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Commission for 2 years.
What organizations are you an active member of?
● President of Blanco County Ducks Unlimited
● International Society of Arboriculture
● Texas Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture
What are the biggest issues facing the City of Johnson City? (250 or fewer words)
● Updated infrastructure/ roads
● Small business growth and retention
● Proper use of tax dollars
How do you plan to address those issues mentioned above?
● After being elected, I would like to take a look at past and present infrastructure projects within the city and compare what’s been done to what the current needs are. I would like to take a closer look at current contractors and assess their qualifications and credentials that have made them a good fit for completing our projects. If a company seems to be less than qualified, I would propose that we put things out for re-bid, if we are able to, and more efficiently score the next group for what the city is actually looking for.
● As far as small business growth and retention, I would like to look into simplifying permitting processes to reduce delays. It could be as simple as the city having more support internally. I would like to see the city partner more with local businesses for large scale events, instead of outsourcing and bringing in non-locals. I will advocate for policies that support small businesses at the state level, including financial assistance, and tax incentives that foster business growth and create jobs.
● I would like to look into how the city has utilized tax dollars in the past, and what their plan is for the future. I would like to ask more questions and do more research before committing our money to certain things.
Why are you running for office?
● My family has been a part of this community since at least the 1940’s. My roots run deep in Johnson City and I want to see the town thrive for the benefit of my friends, family and my kids’ futures. I have gone to many city council meetings and heard the concerns of the citizens and business owners of Johnson City. I know I can make a difference for the greater good and fight for what is needed.
Why are you the best candidate for the position?
● I have 15 years of leadership experience in the professional world. I have worked in the utility industry, service industry, forestry industry, and emergency management, and led various volunteer organizations over the years. I am a very determined and persistent person and love a good challenge. I like to research issues and find solutions to ongoing problems. I want to provide what is best to community members. I am very true to my word and wont turn my back on the taxpayers of this city.
What previous experience will help you if elected to this office?
● My previous work experience in managing contracts, directing contractors, and overseeing budgets and large scale projects has equipped me with the skills necessary to serve on city council and make good decisions for our future. I previously served on the Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Commission and made decisions to support the beautification of the City of Marble Falls. In addition, I am currently the president of the Blanco County chapter of Ducks Unlimited, where we bring together local support and community involvement for the benefit of wetlands and wildlife habitat. I have previously served on the board of directors for the Texas chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, and was the president of the Student Association for Fire Ecology for 4 years.
NAME: KARI THOMAS
Office seeking (number of years in office if incumbent): Council member for 2 years.
Campaign phone number: 214724-5394 Campaign email address: [email protected]
Campaign website or social media page:
Occupation: Building inspector and administrative assistant
Education: Associates
Have you held elective office? If so, what office(s) and how long? Yes, I have. I have sat on the council for the last two years.
What organizations are you an active member of? I am an active member with the youth leading a local 4-H Club.
What are the biggest issues facing the city of Johnson City? Some of the biggest issues facing the city right now is growth.
How do you plan to address those issues mentioned above? Through constant communication with residents and city staff. Talking through issues and ensuring everyone is on the same page helps to create solutions to the problems. We as a council have also currently been watching out city growth and working on creating expansions to areas that will allow for steady growth in the future.
Why are you running for office? I am running to keep my current seat on the council.
Why are you the best candidate for the position? I feel that I am the best candidate based on my relationships I have created with local business members, and residents. The issues that have been presented across council in the last years have brought up great conversations and ways for our city to come together to create a better Johnson City.
What previous experience will help you if elected to this office? My last two years in council as well as mu many years in a business setting.
NAME: BRIAN VICKERS
Office seeking (number of years in office if incumbent): Johnson City Council Member
Campaign phone number: 830-330-1956
Campaign email address: [email protected]
Campaign website or social media page: https://www.facebook.com/blvickers9
Occupation: Retired US AIr Force Officer; Retired National Park Ranger
Education: Master of Arts – National Security Affairs; Master of Science – Aerospace Studies
Have you held elective office? If so, what office(s) and how long? No
What organizations are you an active member of? First Methodist Church; Friends of LBJ National Historical Park (Board Member)
What are the biggest issues facing the City of Johnson City?
The biggest issues facing Johnson City are several. Chief among them are: (1) our freshwater resources, and our wastewater treatment plant. There is a projection for a sizable gain in our city’s population in the next 5-10 years. We cannot serve the projected additional taps with our current freshwater resources. On the matter of the water treatment plant, we are near capacity. With these two inter- connected issues, we cannot and should not grow without constraint. We have to responsibly control growth to ensure adequate water supply and water treatment. (2) Tax revenue is a challenge for our city. Property tax increase is a no-go. Conversely, cutting property taxes further is also a no-go. Cutting property taxes further will hurt the city. We already have one of the lowest property tax bases in central Texas. Cutting property taxes further will only impede provision of necessary, vital community services. Like it or not, we have to maintain our current schedule of property tax in order to assure these services. We should focus on other sources of revenue to address budgetary constraints for our projected future growth. There are other issues too numerous to address in this column. In my opinion - water, water treatment, and tax revenue are but three issues needing attention.
How do you plan to address those issues mentioned above?
I will work collaboratively, not contentiously, with the mayor, fellow council members, and city staff for feasible, affordable solutions to our city’s issues. In my vast experience in the military and private industry, open and transparent communication goes a long way to finding consensus and best solutions. I will not compromise my ideals, but will pursue consensus in the best interest of Johnson City. I will eagerly work within the city’s team for a collaborative effort with the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District to pursue additional freshwater resources needed for expected growth. I advocate for revised impact fees for developers so that impact fee revenue lightens the load on existing residents and businesses to improve our city’s infrastructure, such as an expanded wastewater treatment plant. (I.e., have developers share the load in infrastructure improvement.) Lastly, I will advocate for a better working relationship between city government, the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park to collectively pursue a strategic plan to revive tourism and visitation. If we can get visitors and tourists to stop, shop, and stay in Johnson City, we gain more revenue through increased sales tax and Hotel Occupancy Tax. Who wouldn’t want visitors and tourists to help with increased sales tax revenue? It’s a commonsense approach for a win-win for city residents and small businesses in Johnson City.
Why are you running for office?
All my life, I’ve been called to serve - to serve God, country, and fellow man. I serve my Lord as a dedicated and devoted Christian. I served our nation for 21 years as a US Air Force officer, defending our country and its citizens. After 11 years as a defense contractor, indirectly still serving our nation, I entered the National Park Service, serving the public as a park ranger for 11 years, retiring two years ago. Service is my life-long calling. Now that I’m retired, I have the time, experience and motivation to serve my community on the city council. Johnson City residents and business can count on me for my full attention and time to serving their interests and being a voice for them in our city government. I’m running for city council because I can work with the mayor, fellow council members, small business owners, and residents to find practical solutions to our issues. I will contribute to a vibrant Johnson City that can be the gem of the Texas Hill Country. I truly believe this, or I would not be running.
Why are you the best candidate for the position?
I am the most experienced of three candidates running for two city council member positions up for election. I have 32 years as a public servant: 21 years as a commissioned military officer and 11 years as a National Park Ranger. These 32 years as a steward of the public’s resources and security set me apart to excel as a public servant for the benefit of citizens, residents, and businesses in Johnson City. Add to this 11 more years as a Program Manager with L3 Communications and Northrop Grumman, directing and managing multi-million dollar budgets, contracts, and programs supporting the US Department of Defense. My total of 43 years experience in both the public and private sectors serves me well to address the needs of Johnson City. I have a proven track record of working collaboratively to solve problems. This is why I am the best candidate in this city council election.
What previous experience will help you if elected to this office?
My years in the US Air Force honed my communication and planning skills. Clear, unambiguous communication with pilots and aircrews led to successful mission execution. As an aircrewman flying combat missions during Desert Storm, I relied on teamwork with pilots and fellow aircrews to successfully execute our missions and return safely. I was a staff officer at two war-fighting commands, where detailed analysis and planning was essential to US strategic objectives. I worked at the highest levels of the US military in the Pentagon, as a Joint Staff analyst and planner for the Joint Chiefs of the uniformed services. My final position in the Air Force was as a program director, managing a multi-million dollar budget and personnel program. Testament to stellar performance in these roles was promotion through the ranks to Lieutenant Colonel. As a defense contractor, I led business development, balancing requirements and resources for support to the US Missile Defense Agency. Finally, as a park ranger supervisor, I led successful team service to the public. My planning and communication skills set me up to succeed as a city council member for Johnson City.
NAME: STEPHANIE FISHER
Office seeking (number of years in office if incumbent): Mayor-2 years incumbent; 2 years before that City Council
Campaign phone number: (830)3300181
Campaign email address: stephaniefisher700@ gmail.com
Campaign website or social media page: Facebook: Stephanie Fisher-Mayor of Johnson City, Texas
Occupation: Executive
Education: Tarleton State University, Political Science
Have you held elective office? If so, what office(s) and how long? Blanco County Republican Party Precinct 201 Chair-6 years; Johnson City City Council- 2 years, Johnson City Mayor-2 years
What organizations are you an active member of? I am currently the chairwoman of the Hill Country 100 Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Johnson City Community Education Foundation, and I am the Vice President of the Blanco County Republican Women, and I’m active in many volunteer aspects of my church, First Methodist Church of Johnson City
What are the biggest issues facing the City of Johnson City? The two greatest challenges we’re facing—like so many other Hill Country communities—are securing a reliable water supply for both today and tomorrow, and managing the pressures of rapid, unsustainable growth. One issue that I’m constantly weighing is how we can continue to deliver essential services to our residents while keeping the property tax burden as low as possible. But here in Johnson City, we face an additional, uniquely local concern: how do we protect the historic character and rural identity that make our city special, even as the world around us changes at breakneck speed?
How do you plan to address those issues mentioned above? Ensuring a long-term, reliable water supply for our residents requires continued partnership with the community to reduce waste and adapt to drought conditions through practical, innovative solutions. We must also strengthen our collaboration with the local groundwater district through consistent, two-way communication. As a city, we need the district to better understand and engage with the challenges we’re facing on the ground.
As we navigate a period of rapid population growth, we can’t afford to look only at utilities and public safety infrastructure. We must also plan for the social and economic impacts of development. Are there enough doctors? Restaurants? School capacity? Transportation options? These are often overlooked in development discussions— but they are critical to maintaining quality of life. I believe it’s time to change that.
One of my key goals is to grow our sales tax revenue through strategic tourism marketing— so we can improve services without increasing the property tax burden on our residents. Additionally, we’re working closely with nonprofits and the National Park Service to develop programs that highlight and preserve Johnson City’s rich history, increasing the value of our historic and cultural resources and deepening our identity as a rural community.
Why are you running for office? I am running for reelection because, to put it simply, Johnson City is special. It’s worth fighting for. Being the Mayor of Johnson City has been the most challenging, most humbling, and most rewarding experience of my life. I have loved every minute of it, even the heartbreaking ones; because every moment has been about standing up for our community. I still have goals to achieve for this city, so I am definitely not ready to hang up my hat yet.
Why are you the best candidate for the position? I am the best candidate because I know this role isn’t a job or a title. It’s a way of life. I wake up every morning and know that over 2,000 people need to me to be my best that day. I know that I must operate in my public and personal life with integrity, clarity, and purpose. I recognize that every decision I make and every conversation could have a long lasting impact on those 2,000 people. It’s an awesome responsibility, and one that I take very seriously.
What previous experience will help you if elected to this office? This answer, at first, would appear to be self-evident. But, past experience in this role does not necessarily prepare you for the future in this job. It requires constant education, not only on laws and regulations, but listening to the voice of the people around you. The average things you do every day; conversations, the nightly news, the Sunday sermons in church; all combine together to help you make the best decision for the future of the city.
