Rick Henderson seeking Place 5 council seat

Rick Henderson, a senior lecture in Political Science at Texas State University, has filed to run for Place 5 on the San Marcos City Council. Here’s his statement:

“I feel such enthusiasm and commitment to the city I love to file for the Place 5 seat on the San Marcos City Council. This has been a decision I have been encouraged to consider for several years. I was lucky enough to start teaching the first Austin Community College government courses in San Marcos at the old high school in the fall of 1994. I was proud to be part of that beginning. So many thousands of students have passed through my classes at Southwest Texas State and now Texas State University since that fall semester so long ago. I have continuously encouraged my students to get involved locally. I say, serve on boards and commissions, ad hoc committees attend community events and activities, volunteer and most of all, participate. Many of those students, past and present have encouraged me to enter local politics and seek a place on the council. On Aug.19, I will have been married six years to my lovely wife. Serving as a council member seemed out of the question while my new family of five was growing. Now it is 2018 and I avail myself to the continued work of the San Marcos City Council and with great respect for the dedicated city staff whose functions make this community so great in formally announcing my candidacy for the Place 5 seat on the council.  

“There are several issues that, from-time-to-time, divide us briefly. Social media too often creates divisions and animosities among us in a place where so many shared joys bring us together as a community. Thomas Jefferson stated in his inaugural speech, ‘But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.’ Now he was speaking primarly of the divisions in the growing spirit of party, but I am sure that men and women of principle might very well agree that in San Marcos, it is ‘the whole community first.’

“I find it difficult to describe how unique San Marcos has become. We help one another here. We create groups here and invite everyone join and participate. We do not turn our heads and fold our arms to growth. We must embrace growth with idea-driven policies and an eye on costs. We do not shun the responsibilities of sustainability, river stewardship, improved transportation and mobility, law enforcement and fire protection, and more affordable housing. Nor do we underestimate the continued responsibility of building a modern infrastructure. Most of all, as we grow, the continued input of our citizens, old and new will always keep ‘community first.’ I would like to use a  phrase so often passionately stated by the late Main Street Director Kelly Franks, ‘San Marcos has its own sense of place.’

“It will be an honor to meet so many I have yet to meet to listen and share.”