By Jackie Hardy, NDG Contributing Writer
On May 11, Plano residents will decide the fate of mayoral candidates Fred Moses and Harry LaRosiliere. The two candidates are vying for the mayoral seat because Mayor Phil Dyer is not seeking a second term. Their candidacy is historic for the City of Plano because the victor will become the first African American mayor for the city.
Plano has a population of just a little over 250,000. Information provided by the Plano City Planning office, showed minorities living in Plano make up approximately 39.4 percent, African-Americans are 6.9 percent of that total, equaling an estimated 18,688 people according to the data from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey.
Long-time residents have seen the demographics of their city changing, but like most cities it has taken awhile for local government to reflect the change. In 2011, Mayor Dyer honored former councilman David Perry for his service to Plano (May 1990 – January 1996) as well as honored him for being the first African-American elected to the city council. Perry also ran for the mayoral seat in 1996 but was unsuccessful.
Candidate Fred Moses is the founder and CEO of Telecom, a Plano-based electric supply company with about 20 employees. His company has operated for 28 years and has gained both national and local recognition.
Telecom has been the recipient of several awards, including the “Supplier of the Year Award” from the Minority Business Development Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce, “The M Award” from Minority Business News, and the “MBE Supplier of the Year Award” from the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Council as well as the recipient of the “Gold Star Supplier Award” and the “Partnership Award” from Texas Utilities. Moses has also served on the Board of Advisors of the North Dallas Gazette.
“Plano is a great community and where we have raised our family,” Moses shared. “Running for mayor is another opportunity for me to be involved on a new level. Hopefully, those things that I have done has prepared me to be a great representative for the city.”
Since 2008, Moses has served as chairman of the Collin County GOP. He co-founded, as well as served as Chairman of Plano Community Forum, a non-profit organization that gives scholarships to students within the Plano Independent School District (PISD).
Moses was key in helping the city implement their Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Other boards and committees he has served and/or currently a member of include: Chairman of Plano Chamber of Commerce Executive Board in 1994 (seven years), Plano Economic Development Board (former President), Plano Community Home for Seniors (former President), and Plano Day Care Center Board since 1984 (Treasurer).
Opponent Harry LaRosiliere who was born in Haiti and moved to the U.S. at the age of three, also feels he has been preparing for a life of service his whole life.
“In my late 20’s I discovered that helping people was my calling. I have since devoted my professional life as a financial advisor and my personal life of service to achieve that goal.”
LaRosiliere is a Financial Advisor for UBS Financial located in Addison. He served two terms as City Council member for Place 5 (2005-2011) and throughout his tenure he held the titles of Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem.
LaRosiliere also accredits his readiness to lead from serving on various Plano boards and committees and some of them include: Planning and Zoning Commission (2008-2011), Economic Development Board (2005-2007), Community Finance Committee (2006-2011), Tax Abatement Council Committee (2006-2008), Arts of Collin County Commission (2005-2006 and 2010-2011), and CASA of Collin County Advisory Board (2006-present; served as Chairman from 2000-2001).
“I am the candidate who has a proven track record in municipal governance and shown a true commitment to involvement in municipal governance and I’ve been given responsibility by two mayors to head up key committees and boards,” explains LaRosiliere when asked what distinguishes him from his opponent.
“Harry is an exceptional person and will make a wonderful mayor. He has such a talent for bringing people together and helping create win-win situations,” according to Pat Evans a former Mayor of Plano.
The Plano City Council voted 8-0 for Resolution No. 2013-2-19(R) on Feb. 25 to support the Cotton Belt Rail Line project. They voted to continue the pursuit of legislation to form a special district to facilitate development of the Cotton Belt Rail Line. The project is a planned 62-mile commuter rail line set to provide services from cities in the northeast sector of Dallas to southwest Fort Worth with a major terminal at DFW Airport.
“I anticipate positive effects similar to that of the DART station at 15th St. It would create a transit-oriented neighborhood, an area that would attract younger families; and businesses and restaurants would open to support the people that move to the area,” commented LaRosiliere in a written statement regarding his thoughts on the economic benefits of the Cotton Belt Rail Line.
Recently, the Council also adopted another resolution entitled the Downtown Plano Vision and Strategy Update, which will serve as a guide to set forth policies and goals for future residential/commercial developments related to the continued revitalization of downtown Plano and the DART Rail Corridor.
LaRosiliere thinks connecting downtown with Collin Creek Mall would only help further the goal of economic development for the area. He also believes a complete renovation and re-development of Collin Creek Mall through the collaboration of private/public funding would generate an economic boom to the area.
Moses advised he would be looking to partner with private developers to develop concepts of businesses that would draw people to the downtown Plano area.
Moses asserts, “I will continually work with the other city council members to maintain Plano as one of the best places in America to live.”
For more information about candidate Harry LaRosiliere visit: harry4mayor.com and for candidate Fred Moses visit: mosesformayor.com.
yet neither person supported the efforts to try and save the douglass community center several years ago. neither candidate being elected mayor of plano will not have an impact for the minority residents of plano…couple of yes men for the republican party, but they have a black face (no pun intended)