Two candidates hope to serve the city of Krugerville in Place 3 on the city council.
Bryan Firth, who recently challenged Marion Ragsdale for Place 2, returns to run against incumbent Shane Kading.
Firth, a 27-year Krugerville resident, served on the council over a decade ago and sat on the council that built the current city hall building.
“I served on the council and have been in committee at the state legislature,” Firth said. “I started lobbying in Austin in ‘86, started protections for civil justice and still keep my fingers in that trying to keep things on a level basis.”
Firth is a retired law enforcement offi cer with credentials as one of 320 certifi ed incident commanders in the area and is a hazmat instructor. Currently, he runs a tractor mowing service “from time to time.”
“I already know what needs to be done as far as procedure and how to keep things on an even keel,” Firth said. “There’s no learning curve.”
Though Firth was critical of the current council during his campaign last year, he’s since “leveled out.”
“I’m watching the council and I’m seeing most of what they’re doing, and I’ve seen a couple of things they’ve done to try to improve things and that’s the whole point is to try for some improvement,” Firth said.
He’s seeking a seat to look after the city’s senior population.
“I noticed that seniors don’t have any representation on council anymore, and that’s a critical point” Firth said. “I don’t think that they are doing a bad job, I just think we need to be represented also.”
Senior, for Firth, means both aged and long resided in Krugerville.
“We bought a lifestyle— we bought the opportunity to live life free as we see it, especially coming into our senior years,” Firth said. “We don’t need to change that, don’t need to live by everyone else’s deed restrictions or anything like that.”
Kading is newer to the city, having moved in four years ago. His application for the Planning and Zoning Commission was pulled for an appointment to city council two years ago when prior Place 3 John Nipe vacated his seat.
“I think it’s every citizen’s job to step up and support their community,” Kading said. “That could be at Rotary, their local church, a nonprofit food organization— it could be anything, including the council.”
Kading volunteers as a recent president of the Lake Ray Roberts Rotary Club, with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a director of the board and frequently at church.
“Where we live is so unique,” Kading said. “People take responsibility not just for themselves and their family, but their neighbor. The beauty of that is profound, and I want to be a part of helping the neighbors help themselves. We need to preserve that small town Judeo-Christian value center.”
Kading said in addition to maintaining the city’s values, he hopes to retain his seat to continue supporting public safety.
“The council has done a very good job with Chief Edland keeping us safe, watching the 377 corridor,” Kading said. “I’d like to continue to support that.”
He additionally works for Frontgrade Technologies in sales and engineering for electric semiconductors.
“I’ve had many teams I’ve been a part of as well as had report to me,” Kading said. “It’s important you listen to what your team is trying to achieve and then to give them the support they need to achieve it. As a council member, it’s very similar to how you support your community members and the whole team on the council.”
