SPRINGTOWN — Election season didn’t just end in November but continues in the city of Springtown as the offices of mayor, city council Place 2 and city council Place 4 are up for reelection this spring.
Back in January, current Springtown Mayor Greg Hood announced he will not seek reelection this year after serving in the office since 2018. With Hood’s retirement, a newcomer to city politics has emerged seeking the mayor’s office.
Longtime former Springtown Independent School District Superintendent Mike Kelley is throwing his hat into the race for mayor as he filed his application with the city Jan. 17.
Of his inspiration to run for the office, Kelley says his family’s history of public service gave him the motivation.
“My dad was a school board trustee, his dad was a mayor and later county treasurer and generations further back include a state representative and a U.S. senator,” Kelley said. “I was proud to read stories about what they accomplished, and I suppose that is part of my inspiration to serve in this capacity. Although I am relatively new to Springtown (having only been here 26 years), my wife’s side of the family has been part of this community for seven generations and that also influenced my decision to run for mayor here in Springtown.”
But what makes Kelley stand out as a candidate? Kelley points to his experience leading organizations and wearing the different hats of many public roles is what sets him apart.
“As for what might sepa- rate me from any other candidate who might choose to run, I hope my experience leading an organization with more than 500 employees and working with elected officials for more than a decade proves to be valuable,” Kelley said. “I believe I have been approachable and transparent as a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent here in Springtown. I will certainly strive to be both if given the opportunity to serve our community as mayor.”
Kelley emphasized the city’s great effort in being transparent with its citizens and plans to continue this if he wins office.
“Prior administrations have gone to great lengths to ensure that our council’s actions are completely public and transparent,” Kelley said. “Every council meeting is available online and voting records are clearly accessible on the city’s website. I think they have done a terrific job on that front.”
As for the key issue he wants to focus his campaign on, Kelley wants to make sure the city’s infrastructure is prepped for continuing rapid growth.
“The continued population growth of our city and the surrounding community is certain to continue,” Kelley said. “Preparing our infrastructure for the growth that is sure to come so that our community is appealing to the people and businesses that will help us improve our quality of life. Perhaps the focus of future infrastructure needs revolves around water. There is a real crisis pending on that front. I hope my experience cooperating and networking with various government entities and elected officials at both the local and state level proves to be useful if I am elected.”
Kelley believes this infrastructure improvement can be accomplished through partnership and discernment.
“I believe I can work alongside the other members of our city council and Mr.
Miller’s staff while providing an appropriate level of discernment when needed,” Kelley said. “The current council has already secured a grant that will provide matching funds to improve our city park and the city has already shared plans to continue improving our roadways. Water has to be a chief concern of every community in our part of the state and I want to be certain resources are allocated to address those needs as best we can.”
When it comes to topics like reform within the city government, Kelley believes no major reform is needed as the current council has all his confidence.
“I have confidence in the existing city council,” Kelley said. “If there were significant reforms needed, I believe they would already be underway. That said, I remember hearing Pat Riley famously say, “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse,” and it’s always applicable.”
Kelley said his hope for Springtown in five years is that the city’s footprint and tax base grows simultaneously working together as a city.
“I hope that we (and I emphasize “we”) will have found a way to grow the city’s footprint and tax base,” Kelley said. “This will be no small task — if it were easy, someone would have already found a way to do it. However, I believe doing so may be the only path forward if we hope to improve our infrastructure, provide quality emergency services and support the businesses in our community (those already here as well as those that might come).”
As for economic development, Kelley says he will work with the Springtown Chamber of Commerce and other municipalities to further grow and attract businesses to come to Springtown.
“I will continue to work with our local chamber of commerce (though from a different position),” Kelley said. “I hope to engage with the North Central Texas Economic Development District, the Parker County Economic Development Council and the Texas Municipal League to learn more about how our city can secure grants, leverage interlocal agreements and work cooperatively other councils in our area. As a retiree, I have time and availability — as a former superintendent, I have a strong understanding of how public entities must operate.”
Springtown’s financial stability is crucial to Kelley and if elected, he plans to continue providing that stability alongside City Administrator David Miller.
“The council approves the budget annually and is charged with reviewing monthly updates throughout the year. I believe the city council and city staff have worked cooperatively to ensure short and long-term fiscal stability and I will pledge to continue that path,” Kelley said. “As with any homeowner or business owner, sometimes you have to spend money to save money.”
And for the undecided voters to come, Kelley sees that being known throughout the community comes with already formed opinions and states he will always do what is right for Springtown.
“My career in education included 22 years leading either a campus or the district in Springtown,” Kelley said. “I suspect a fair percentage of our community has already formed an opinion of me. I have always tried to do what’s right, knowing full well that what’s right is not always popular. A quote Lonnie Seipp shared with me when I became a principal will continue to guide my decision-making if elected mayor of Springtown: “If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how — the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”— Abraham Lincoln.
