Four candidates have filed for three two-year terms on the Village of Salado Board of Aldermen.: Rodney W. Bell, John Cole, Dr. Amber Preston-Dankert and Linda Reynolds.

The election will be May 4 with early voting April 22-30. Below is an introduction of the candidates.

Rodney W. Bell 

I am a graduate of Baylor University with dual degrees in Business Management and Information Systems. I am also a 2001 graduate of the Baylor University Executive MBA program. 

As Senior Vice-President of Technology Services at First Community Services, my role is to manage Computer Operations, PC Support, Servers, Systems, Network, and ATM Operations for the organization. 

Bobbette and I have lived in Salado since 2002. Bobbette serves as the Librarian at Salado High School. We have one daughter, Kendall, who is currently an elementary teacher in South Carolina. We are members of the First Baptist Church of Salado where I serve as a Deacon and have served as the Chairman of the Audit and Finance committees. 

I served as a member of the Salado ISD Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2018 and feel extremely blessed to lived and served in this community. 

I am extremely grateful to have had the trust and support of our community. I have also served as a city councilman and mayor pro-tem in Mart, Texas prior to moving to Salado. 

Other affiliations include past Treasurer for the Body of Christ Community Clinic in Belton. I am a past graduate and past President of Leadership Temple. 

I have been and will continue to be committed to the highest standards of civic leadership for our community. 

My managerial, financial, technical and leadership skills have prepared me to set and implement the goals and policies of this village in alignment with the values and expectations of our community.

John Cole

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is John Cole. You have probably seen me on the streets walking our dogs in the wagon, and I am still not sure who walks who; anyway.

Twenty-three years ago, my wife and I made Salado our home and we have watched it grow from a quiet village into a vibrant little city. After 10 years of active duty military service with the US Army, and 36 years of Systems Engineering and Analysis, it was time to retire.  Now, I am ready to serve the city that has been our home for two decades as a member of city council. Well you can check here that for which Engineering degree you should apply.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, an associate degree in Applied Sciences, and have served two years as the MCCA Liaison to City Council, all of which fully support my efforts to perform the duties of Alderman. My concerns for the city and reasons for seeking office are very diverse; city expansion, city budget concerns, the new waste water system, police force stability, road conditions, existing businesses-new business and city improvements, just to name a few. We must all look far ahead and plant the shade trees today, for the Salado of tomorrow, that is what we are supposed to do. 

Remember, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Every decision your city council makes will have a direct impact on you. My name is Cole and I am running for Alderman.

Dr. Amber Preston-Dankert

My name is Dr. Amber Preston Dankert and I am a home-grown, third-generation Saladoan. A 1998 graduate of Salado High School, I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Journalism, a Master of Education degree in Agricultural Education, and a Doctor of Education degree in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University, as well as a Doctor of Education degree in Agricultural Science and Natural Resources from Texas Tech University. I have worked for the Department of Defense – Army since 2005, and currently serve as the Supervisor of Wildlife Management at Fort Hood. 

As a lifelong Saladoan, I have witnessed growth and change both within and surrounding the Village. I served two terms on the Board of Aldermen, but did not seek a third term last year. Separating from the BOA for a year was a good break, but I quickly realized that the changes and issues I had been so passionate about were changing under new leadership. I want to be more involved in the big issues, such as the completion of the sewer and the mandates that are being placed on individuals and businesses, bringing in businesses along the west side, monitoring and supporting positive, thoughtful growth of new homes and businesses, and many other issues that face our Village today. 

It is time to support local people, and businesses, and not over-regulate those who have already chosen Salado as their destination. The regulation needs to come in the form of monitoring new growth. After all, Salado is growing, and without taking the right steps today, we will have no control over the Salado we see tomorrow. We have to have a plan today, and not just “let growth happen”. New businesses are the best way to offset the high cost of the new sewer, and we cannot wait around for development that has been discussed, but have not yet started construction.

Finally, more committees must be formed to help with issues in the Village. The Village staff and the Aldermen will never have all the answers, and both new AND old residents must have their voices heard. That said, the BOA must outline expectations and then sit back and support committee decisions!  After all, the BOA is elected by the people and should support them. 

Thank you for your support, and I hope to be elected as your next Alderman.

Linda Reynolds

I moved to Salado in 2011 after a 35 year career in education. My plan was to retire and help my mother stay out of a nursing home. She’s 95 and going strong, so that plan is working!

My only other plan was to read all the books I missed while working. When my husband died, my daughter was 12 and I had two house mortgages and college expenses to manage.

Today, my daughter is in the medical field in Austin, and I have no debt.

My life events made me a fiscal conservative, and that’s how I would approach my duties as an alderman.

I will support a 10% across the board (except for the volunteer fire department) tax roll back. My research tells me the BOA has wasted a great deal of money with little accomplished to improve  livability and safety in the village.

We rely on many wonderful volunteers to keep Salado beautiful, but as young families with two working parents move in, their priorities may be different than the retired volunteers. 

Of course, some residents want more services from the village, and tell me they think taxes should increase. Having your taxes frozen when you turn 65 may make some more willing to call for an increase which doesn’t affect them.

I worry about the young families who will face a large school tax increase in Fall 2019, and the business property owners who are also facing huge impact fees just to connect to the sewer.

The village can help mitigate the financial shock of our growth with a little belt tightening. 

I’ve been there and done that in my own life, so let me help the village acquire a little real life financial wisdom.

Thank you for your support.