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Clive candidates lay out priorities on redevelopment, budget, trail safety and regional partnerships at Chamber forum
Summary
At a Clive Chamber candidate forum, mayoral and council candidates emphasized preparing for near buildout and flat revenues, regional cooperation on transit and flood mitigation, trail safety concerns from faster e-bikes, and efforts to better engage Dallas County residents.
Jessica Maldonado, the past president of the Clive Chamber of Commerce, opened a candidate forum Tuesday evening and introduced six contenders for Clive municipal office, who used three-minute remarks and an audience Q&A to outline priorities for the city.
Mayor John Edwards framed his decision to seek another term around decades of local service and regional leadership, saying his experience on committees that steer transportation and water resources gives Clive a voice beyond its borders. "When this summer's water crisis was announced, I was the elected official asked to face the media," Edwards said, arguing that continuity and experience matter during emergencies.
Several candidates converged on a central theme: Clive is approaching buildout and must plan for flat or slowing revenue growth. "Redevelopment will be a big issue and infilling as well," Councilman Michael McCoy said, urging the city to be proactive in preparing shovel-ready sites and courting developers. Candidates urged flexibility in zoning and predevelopment to attract the right projects.
Trail and park safety also drew sustained attention after residents reported fast-moving e-bikes and small motorized vehicles on the Greenbelt. "I've seen property damage and kids riding at high speeds without helmets," first-time candidate Satie Gasperado said, calling for public education and school partnerships. Several candidates said enforcement alone would be insufficient and urged a regional approach to safety standards.
On regional partnerships, speakers emphasized continued participation in organizations such as DART and Bravo even while weighing cost and local benefit. "Clive pays almost a million dollars into DART," Eric Klein noted, and candidates described an on-demand pilot that could expand localized transit options.
Candidates closed by urging voter engagement and reminding attendees that materials and candidate profiles were available through the Chamber. The forum included sustained exchanges on redevelopment strategy, fiscal planning, public-safety education, and how to better engage residents in Dallas County and older east-side neighborhoods.
