CORINTH — Two council members are vying for the mayor’s chair, and another candidate has challenged an incumbent’s re-election, reigniting the leadership debate for this city of 19,000.

Both sitting council members, Shannon Bryan, 31, a business development director, and Paul Ruggiere, 43, a research director, have squared off to replace outgoing Mayor Vic Burgess, 67, who will not seek a fourth term.

College student, mother and volunteer Sherry Schneider, 40, has challenged incumbent Jim Mayfield, 63, a retired mechanical engineer, for Place 2.

Mayor’s race

Corinth needs a charismatic leader for this new time, one who helps residents, both new and longtime, feel they are a part of the city, Bryan said.

“We need the type of leader who is organized and gets people involved in the process,” Bryan said. “I don’t think we’ve had that for a while.”

Turnover in the city manager’s position has made it difficult for the council to put its policies and plans into motion, she said, but turnover at the council level also has created problems.

“In early 2000, the city mushroomed and there was enormous growth,” Bryan said. “That was the pinnacle moment to do something [in commercial development], but when strife happens, there is no investment in the community.”

She didn’t mean that the council has to be in lockstep together, she said, but a mayor can set the tone and foster relationships that makes things happen.

While people will always come and go, Ruggiere agreed the city needed a full-time, long-term manager in place to help carry out policies.

“In my organization, I have four people who work for me who have been there 10 years, on average,” said Ruggiere, director of the Survey Research Center at the University of North Texas.

Ruggiere said the commercial development boom skipped Corinth because city leaders didn’t invest in the roads and water and sewer lines needed.

“It does involve a gut check because these projects are expensive,” Ruggiere said. “But they are necessary for growth and to take the property tax burden off the homeowners.”

Residents can help with the comprehensive plan, he said, and with that, the revision of the city’s development codes, which many developers complain are unwieldy.

“With a plan, we can be ready when the next round of development happens,” Ruggiere said.

Place 2

As a member of the City Council, Mayfield said he, too, has felt the distraction and frustration of council and staff turnover, particularly at the city manager level.

However, he imagined that most applicants for city manager would not be put off by the salary level, which is sufficient. He said the right candidate would be attracted to a city that isn’t completely built out.

“There’s an opportunity there to guide and steer the city,” Mayfield said, adding that it was important to him that the government not interfere with the rights of property owners.

He said the best government is that which governs least.

Challenger Schneider said that the city leaders often don’t listen to residents or follow through with their problems, or, if they do, they don’t communicate with them about it.

For example, Schneider said, many residents asked for a traffic light at Post Oak Drive and FM2181, but were told it was the state’s responsibility. Schneider said the city should have taken the lead in lobbying for the light.

“That way it becomes a priority [to the state],” Schneider said.

She wants to lay the groundwork for better responsiveness to residents.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, and I’m ready to work,” Schneider said. 

Place 5

Software engineer Bruce Hanson is unopposed in his race for Place 5. The council seat was left vacant when Bryan opted to run for mayor instead of running again for her council seat. Ruggiere, however, is in the middle of his term. The city charter does not require him to surrender his seat to run for mayor.

The election is May 9. Early voting begins April 27.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.

MAYORAL RACE

Shannon Bryan

Age: 31

Born in: Shreveport, La.

Education: associate’s degree, North Central Texas College, 2003; bachelor’s degree, Dallas Baptist University, 2009

Experience: construction office manager, 1995-97; business owner, 1997-1999; manager, Roy G. Bryan, CPA, 1999-present

Paul Ruggiere

Age: 43

Born in: Glen Cove, N.Y.

Education: bachelor’s degree in business administration, University of North Texas, 1987; master’s degree in sociology, UNT, 1991; doctoral degree in sociology, UNT, 2000

Experience: researcher, 1990-94; director of research, UNT Survey Research Center, 1994-present

CITY COUNCIL RACE, PLACE 2

Jim Mayfield (I)

Age: 63

Born in: Peoria, Ill.

Education: bachelor’s degree, 1969, Tennessee Tech; graduate study, 1986-1993, Purdue University

Experience: U.S. Army, 1969-1971; Peterbilt Motors, 1976-1982; French Tool & Manufacturing, 1982; Transportation Manufacturing Corp., 1983-1986; General Motors, 1986-1993; Peterbilt Motors, 1993-2008 (retired)

Sherry Schneider

Age: 40

Born in: Vancouver, Wash.

Education: attending University of North Texas College of Public Affairs and Community Service, anticipated graduation in summer 2009

Experience: transcription business, 1984-88; telemarketer, 1988-89; franchise operator, 1991; occupational therapy assistant, 1994-95; business development, 1996-98; transcription business, 1999-2006; franchise operator, 2005-06; nonprofit development, 2007-present