I'm a farm girl raised on a small farm in the Rio Grande Valley. I was in 4-H, highly beencompetitive, and active in many organizations. I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1971 with a degree in communications. In college I was selected by administration as an Outstanding Woman on Campus my freshman year and served on the Baptist Student Union Freshman Board, I was a founding leader and officer in the UTA Folk Music Club. I sang with two fellow students at multiple music venues in the Dallas-Ft Worth area and in Austin. My Jr. year I was elected ROTC Battalion B Sweetheart and Corp Sweetheart my Senior year. I was a hostess for the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity.

After exploring multiple interests, I graduated from the UTA Graduate School of Social work with honors. I was elected GSSW student body President and fought for and got a student right written into the school by-laws Upon graduation, I was immediately hired as Director of Social Services. I was recruited by Parkland Hospital to write and implement an Employee Assistance Program pilot program. I was loaned to Southwest Medical School parttime to teach Residents how to work with social workers My other work there is too much to list at this time! I went into private practice as a psychotherapist after leaving Parkland and ultimately created and co-owned my own clinic---Mind Body Therapy Associates, a wholistic clinic unique in the DFW area. In 2000 I decided to return to a more rural life and be closer to my aging parents. I joined a green building group and started work on my property building green and installing rainwater collection In 2008 I joined a group to reform the Pedernales Electric Coop Board. In 2013 I was elected to the HTGCD board and have served as President for seven years, VP six years. I initiated the recognition of Jacobs Well as a special management zone. I am experienced and a proven leader and fighter for our water and our future.

Aside from my ALWAYS goal to "Preserve, Conserve, and Prevent Waste" of groundwater, my first goal will be to continue efforts to get full Chapter 36 Water Code authority to meet the legislative mandates just mentioned. The HTGCD was legislatively created with limited authority to do its job. Multiple attempts have been made to reach this goal The last Legislative session we had a bill to get this done that passed with flying colors through the Senate. When it reached the House Committed for Natural Resources, Republican Carrie Isaac, (my Rep) had the bill pulled! Killed!!! She had not sponsored the bill--refused to do so, so somehow was able to get it pulled from hearing. We attached the critical funding portion to another bill that passed, but was vetoed by Abbott---at the behest of Isaac and developers. Once that portion was removed, Abbott signed it. Representative Zwiener wrote the bill and will support us again. So, I am already working on the goal of removing Isaac from office and replacing her with Merrie Fox. Merrie is working hard to get educated about our water issues and is committed to working to get the needs of the HTGCD met this next legislative session.

Funding for the District is one of our most critical issues. The above legislative action would fix this problem But it would also fix the problem that is bleeding us financially at this time We are being sued by Aqua Texas and Dripping Springs Water Supply Corp and the legal fees are taking all our resources. And let's be clear. Our ask for funding is one of the options that all other 99 groundwater districts have: Production fees. Options are production fees and/or taxes. We have specifically stated we do not seek taxes. So, again the election of Merrie Fox is critical to helping get the HTGCD stable and fully able to do its job! And Erin Zwiener!

The above issues are combined, but represent two goals. But to really meet the needs of the people and our water issues, there is another piece to the puzzle. Our Counties need more authority to manage sustainable growth. They have consistently been denied and often stripped of their ability to have this authority. Most counties are willing and even want to work with their local GCDs on the issues of water availability and growth, But the Legislature has been unwilling to even hear this plea. So I have been working in the shadows with my County Commissioner on some new development regulations that will at least enable the HTGCD to collaborate more on the now mandated water availability studies that were enacted the last legislative session. But once again, working with Merrie Fox and Erin Zwiener to get stronger authority to Counties is critical I will be active in Austin as these bills come to committee. And active in my community to gain support and a LOUD voice to get it done.

Hopefully new legislation will make new rules further empowering the District to be my third goal!

As a groundwater conservation district director, this is my job. I have many years of training, scientific knowledge, and experience doing just this. As talked about in above question responses, I would work to utilize every tool possible to deal with this crisis. I have been helping two groups in Comal County, the Canyon Lake area, who are working very hard for the healthy preservation of clean water at Canyon Lake, This includes keeping sewer discharge out of not only Canyon Lake, but all the river and creek tributaries that feed the local aquifers. Again. Merrie Fox is working with them to get 311 protection for all of this, and possibly for the whole state. The Austin lakes have this and they have no chemical or pharmaceutical activity . Good, clean natural water. I sing the praises of rainwater collection. When I put mine in it wasn't that expensive. That has changed, But I believe in the long run it will be more than worth it. And the quality of the water is indisputable! This is where the ability of Counties to have more authority could require rainwater collection on new homes. especially in large developments.

I am anti-data centers in general. AI is proven to be able to go out of control. The environmental issues of Data Centers anywhere alarms me. In our area, or anywhere in the Hill Country, it should be a no-brainer---NO DATA CENTERS. The space they take up covers surface area that is needed for aquifer recharge. They are noisy. They light pollute. Trees are cut and other natural habitat is destroyed. They intrude into the living space/environment of private homes. They are big and ugly! All of this doesn't even consider the biggest issues---WATER and ELECTRICITY. Gas powered further pollutes the air. All of this for someone to make more money. We have brains. Why don't we do more to protect and utilize them? Bottom line: We can live without Data Centers We CANNOT live without clean water and clean air.