By Charlotte Aguilar
After the last election in 2019 put three new councilmembers in office, Bellaire voters will begin casting their ballots Oct. 18 for the Nov. 2 general election — once again to fill a majority of seats at their City Council table.
Mayor Andrew Friedberg drew no opposition in his run for a fourth two-year term, and no incumbents are running for the three vacant council positions.
To help with those important decisions, Essentials Magazine asked the seven council candidates to respond to a questionnaire and to submit one formal and one informal photograph. Here is what they provided.
(Editor’s note: In an oversight, candidate Ross Gordon’s response to question 3, about priorities, did not appear in the Essentials’ magazine version of the questionnaire. It appears in full below.)
POSITION 1
Winfred ‘Win’ Frazier vs. Kevin Newman
Two former candidates are squaring off to fill the seat of single-term Councilmember Neil Verma, who decided against seeking re-election. Frazier is former chair of Bellaire’s Planning & Zoning Commission and has led the Patrons for Bellaire Parks. Newman has served on the city’s seniors advisory board, and in addition to seniors’ advocacy, his own experiences as a repeatedly flooded homeowner have made flood mitigation a cause of his.
POSITION 3
Ross Gordon vs. Javier Vega
Gordon is the chair of the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, while Vega is an eight-year resident who is new to Bellaire civic matters. They seek to replace Mayor Pro Tem/Councilmember Gus Pappas, who is term-limited.
POSITION 5
Andrea Ehlers, David Montalvo, Brian Witt
Also term-limited is Councilmember Michael Fife, and three candidates are looking to fill her seat. Ehlers is longtime president of the Friends of the Bellaire Library, while Montalvo is a graduate student in information technology at the University of Houston who has been involved in Bellaire campaigns and council monitoring. Witt is a member of Bellaire’s Environmental Sustainability Board.
ELECTION CALENDAR:
- Last day to register to vote: Oct. 4
- Early voting: Oct. 18-29
- Last day to apply for ballot-by-mail (received, not postmarked): Oct. 22
- Election Day: Nov. 2
Details on voting locations, hours and procedures at HarrisVotes.com.
THE ESSENTIALS QUESTIONNAIRE 2021
1. How is Bellaire city government performing? Give the current mayor and City Council a grade (A=Excellent, B=Very Good, C=Competent, D=Needs Improvement, F=Failing) and write three brief, report card-like comments about their performance.
Frazier: Bellaire City Council should seek to unite the community and build upon consensus. That’s the goal Win Frazier will present if he is on city council. We should not feed nor perpetuate divisiveness.
Newman: D+. The newly elected council members have been stifled for the last 2 years and did not have the ability to affect more change. We are still saddled with the Hofmann failings, and now it will require a majority of votes to finally eliminate the old mentality that does not benefit Bellaire.
Gordon: Grade: D. While I respect its work greatly, Council has struggled to function in an orderly manner, has accomplished little in the past two years, and has delayed action on critical items important to the strength, appeal, and viability of Bellaire as a premier residential City in the Houston area.
Vega: C-. I think their heart is in the right place, but I think I can bring them more focus and a more structured decision framework. I think our council needs to work more efficiently, prioritize initiatives, and manage finances better.
Ehlers: Grade: D=Needs Improvement. Lackluster synergy between the City Council & the Interim City Manager affects decision-making. Debt Management is not a common goal, so Revenue Management is not a high priority. Facts, costs and statistics are not requirements for budget presentations or requests, so outcome based decision-making is not evident.
Montalvo: B=Very Good. I think the council is doing a good job so far with three new council members in these challenging times. I wish they were more communicative on current events affecting the city. They should be more supportive of residents voicing their concerns.
Witt: C – Competent. Council seems focused on being good stewards of our tax dollars. The delay in hiring a permanent city manager has created unnecessary uncertainty and confusion. Council could do a better job of planning for known future expenses.
2. Are Bellaire property taxes too high, too low, or just about right? If you think they are too high, how would you reduce them – cut services or raise taxes? Specifically, what services would you cut?
Frazier: Our property taxes are a function of the services our residents want and expect and based on public input to Council over the years our taxes are just about right. We enjoy wonderful city services here in Bellaire. City taxes make only about 20% of a resident’s total taxes. Considering what we get in return, Bellaire provides a good value. We should continually strive to keep our tax rate as low as possible while still maintaining the level of service residents expect, particularly as we recover from the pandemic and past storms.
Newman: My issue has always been the wasteful spending. We need to use the property taxes in a smart, fiscally responsible way while protecting the fixed income seniors. Once we fix the bloated budget those funds will provide Bellaire residents with an above average level of service with possibly lower taxes.
Gordon: Taxes should always be lower, if possible. But maintaining premier services (police, fire) and addressing infrastructure issues (flooding) requires vision and commitment. We should look for every efficiency possible within our operating structure while proactively addressing the needs of the future in a responsible and equitable manner. So about right.
Vega: Bellaire voters want value for their taxes. The more efficient our capital and spend structure is, the more value we get. Bellaire has $110M of debt on. That’s $16,000/household vs $2,000 revenue/household. 8:1 debt to revenue. With 50% of city tax revenue servicing debt? Yeah, too high relative to value.
Ehlers: Debt service consumes almost 50% of annual tax revenue. Without debt control, lowering the tax rate is difficult. At the current rate, projected tax revenue will increase over last year. There is no need to raise taxes this year. Excess funds should be redirected toward debt reduction or necessary Capital Improvements.
Montalvo: Too high. They are higher than neighboring West U and Southside. I would look into the City Manager’s Office and cut back on any unnecessary personnel, services, or finances that do not benefit the city of Bellaire.
Witt: The average Bellaire homeowner (under 65) pays $3,275/year or about $275/month in city taxes, which funds our police and fire departments and the many other outstanding services we enjoy. We should strive to keep taxes low, but Bellaire’s taxes are about right for the services our citizens depend on and expect.
3. Rate these in order of your priorities (and add your own priorities or knock any of these off the list that aren’t a priority):
- Selecting a permanent city manager
- “Virtual gate” technology for security
- Flood control/mitigation projects
- The city’s debt load
- Seniors’ assistance
- Holding the line on property taxes
- Updating the Comprehensive Plan
- Communication with residents
- Bonds for a new library
- Additional parkland/greenspace
- Recycling/environmental sustainability programs
- Emergency response support
Frazier: All the projects are important. Here is a potential priority list:
Flood Control/mitigation projects
Holding the line on property taxes
The city’s debt load
Updating the Comprehensive Plan
Selecting a permanent city manager
Communication with residents
Bonds For a New Library
Emergency response support
Virtual gate technology for security
Recycling/environmental sustainability programs
Newman:
- Proper spending of property taxes
- Seniors’ assistance
- The city’s debt load
- Selecting a permanent city manager
- Communication with residents
- Flood control/mitigation projects
- A new library
- Continued improvement of our Fire and Police Departments
Gordon:
We can walk and chew gum at the same time. We should practice good governance which is participatory, consensus-oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive, and which follows the rule of law. That starts with hiring the right City Manager. Then we can establish and deliver on consensus priorities(e.g. public safety) and address long-term existential challenges like flood mitigation, all while building community in everything we do.
Vega:
- Flood control/mitigation projects
- The city’s debt load
- Preserve our City of Homes
- “Virtual gate” technology for security
- Emergency response support
- Seniors’ assistance
- Recycling/environmental sustainability programs
- Communication with residents
Ehlers:
- The city’s debt load
- Flood control/mitigation projects
- Bringing Back the “City of Homes” Seal/Logo/Branding
- Communication with residents
- Selecting a permanent city manager
- Updating the Comprehensive Plan
- Bonds fora new library
- Holding the line on property taxes
- “Virtual gate” technology for security
- Emergency response support
Additional parkland/greenspace – Not needed at this time
Recycling/environmental sustainability programs – only needed if revenue source
Seniors’ assistance – Not sure what this means
Montalvo:
Holding the line on property taxes
The city’s debt load
Communication with residents
Additional parkland/greenspace
Recycling/environmental sustainability programs
Flood control/mitigation projects
Witt:
- Select a permanent city manager.
- Flood control/mitigation projects and additional parkland/greenspace.
- Good stewardship of our tax dollars.
- Set aside money each year to fund future small projects.
- Give first responders the staff and tools they need to ensure our safety.
- Give citizens the opportunity to vote on the future of Evergreen Park and the Bellaire Library.
- Update Bellaire’s Comprehensive Plan
- Add Environmental Sustainability to Bellaire’s 5 year Priorities.
- Increased communication with residents
- Seniors’ assistance
4. Choose one of the priority topics above and write 75 words maximum on a worthwhile or novel approach (your own or something you’ve heard) to deal with the matter.
Frazier: I serve on Bellaire’s Flood Mitigation Task Force which performed oversight review and approval of the Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan. We require both regional and local flood control projects. We need to pick up where we left off with our unfinished streets and drainage infrastructure needs. It is important that we implement plans and objectives to reduce the severity of flooding and damaging impacts.
Newman: When property taxes increase, it burdens those on a fixed income. We need to do more to support our seniors. It bothers me to hear of people having to sell and move because they can not afford the property taxes. I have been fighting for years for our funds to be put to better use. We must plan efficiently for the future and save for later infrastructure improvements. Additionally, we need to hire a City Manager who will actually represent and fulfill the needs of the residents.
Gordon: Regional/State/Federal funding exists today (after Harvey) which can make the impossible possible. Bellaire must aggressively partner with regional entities and pursue every dollar of grant funding (spending $25M to secure $75M is good business). Repetitive flooding is an existential challenge, which if unaddressed will continue to erode our appeal and our property values. We can adopt progressive building codes, chip away at local drainage deficiencies, and cost effectively secure regional projects which change our fate.
Vega: Despite recent public council opinions that flooding is no longer an issue, my experiences tell me Bellaire can act within its borders to improve flooding issues. We must continue to focus on it. We must restore overland sheet flow, and understand that high ground areas now flood in pockets while lower areas remain unaffected. We need practical insight to accompany the $100,000’s academic studies treating flooding as an abstraction.
Ehlers: The City’s debt burden has crippled Bellaire to the point where improvements such as improved bathrooms at Evergreen Park or toilets at Mulberry Park must compete with Bellaire’s debt obligations. Meanwhile, West U plans to lower their tax rate to $0.278522 per $100 of assessed value* due to decreased debt.
*$0.278522 per $100 of assessed value is less than the no-new-tax rate of city’s current tax rate of $0.294066 per $100 of assessed value and the no-new-revenue tax rate, calculated at $0.285941 per $100 of assessed value. Also, please note that there is no Homestead Exemption in West U. (Only exemptions are for Over-65 and Disabled.)
Montalvo: I still believe property taxes are a priority, but I will switch to parks. While some parks have playgrounds and BBQ pits to keep families entertained, others could do with some upgrading. Locust Park feels neglected as it is just green space behind a parking lot. I often forget that Bellaire has its own dog park at Lafayette Park, next to an overlooked dog pound (that also needs more attention).
Witt: Flooding continues to be an issue for our city. We should continue to work with Harris County and other entities on flood mitigation and drainage issues, while also seeking local solutions. One idea is to acquire lots in the 4300 block of Lafayette adjacent to the park to create a flood retention area, thereby both adding greenspace and reducing flooding in the Southdale subdivision.
5. City planning oversight: Mindful of its UV-D (Urban Village-Downtown) zoning designation, create your dream scenario for the development of the property in the 5100 block of Bellaire Boulevard where the old Randalls, the Subway, and the Wells Fargo Bank stand.
Frazier: I envision this district as a walkable small downtown for shopping, services, dining and entertainment, that’s consistent with and supports our residential quality of life, allowing us to support small business without leaving Bellaire, and keeping our sales tax dollars in Bellaire. A redeveloped UV-D could be Bellaire’s signature district.
Newman: Being Pro-Business, I would love to see what the market dictates.
Gordon: This is a very appropriate location for commercial activity, as it is bound on all sides by commercial. I hope the development is Bellaire oriented, focused on providing amenities (e.g. sporting goods store, restaurants) or services (e.g. medical offices, financial institutions) to be used by Bellaire residents and families.
Vega: Trick question? Kidding! My personal dream scenario shouldn’t be a priority I think. An elected official must be more concerned with the decision process. Benchmark. Leverage best practices to vet/find potential appropriate uses then ask the citizens. Easy. The right project will be unobtrusive, revenue efficient, and drive citizen patronage.
Ehlers: This is a chance to create something very significant and meaningful for Bellaire, a showpiece development. Maybe a center for innovation and learning, similar to the Ion being developed by Rice, financed by local & federal dollars? Something sized to fit Bellaire, that is unique and increases its prestige.
Montalvo: I think a FedEx office or a department store could replace the old Randalls. An art gallery could also be nice where the Bellaire Arts and Crafts Festival can take place. I would not do anything to hinder the Subway or the Wells Fargo Bank.
Witt: I envision a thoughtfully designed green space surrounded by shops, restaurants, and office space (think City Center on I-10, but smaller). It would be a place where families could work, shop, eat, and play in a safe environment close to home.
6. Rate these relatively recent construction projects in Bellaire from “best” to “worst,” with those in-between as “acceptable” or “unacceptable.”
- H-E-B
- Medical building and parking garage on the northeast corner of Bissonnet and Newcastle
- Redevelopment of Bellaire Town Center at southwest corner of Bellaire Boulevard and South Rice
- Phases I and II of Evelyn’s Park
- Updating/upgrading of Russ Pitman Park
- Parking lot (now removed) at 4300 Bellaire Blvd.
- Permitting of Bellaire HS ball fields, under construction by Houston ISD on former Gordon ES/Mandarin Chinese HISD site at Avenue B and Bissonnet
- Redevelopment of Holly Street residential esplanade
Frazier: As the former Chair of Bellaire’s Planning & Zoning Commission, I believe this isn’t really comparing apples-to-apples and that it’s just not as simple as the question might suggest. The need exist for most of these projects.
- Redevelopment of Bellaire Town Center would be a top priority.
- Parking lot at 4300 Bellaire Blvd would be last on the list.
Newman: Intentionally left blank.
Gordon: This is comparing apples and oranges, as this is a mix of public and private projects. Ultimately, public projects which enhance our parks and open spaces are vital to creating an inviting and family friendly environment and enhancing our property values. Certain private projects were by right (e.g. Bellaire Town Center) and have served a purpose, even with limited influence from City Council. But more can be done to ensure our Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan align and match our vision for Bellaire, and that necessary protections exist to ensure the City is not surprised by private development. And certain things, like the debacle which was the 4300 Bellaire Blvd parking lot, shouldn’t have happened in the first place. While City government cannot control every action, the purpose of City Planning, and zoning in general, is to increase the likelihood that the City continues to develop in a manner which is predicable and in-line with our goals and expectations.
Vega:
- Bellaire Town Center – I think each of these must be measured by how much citizen satisfaction we can garner without sacrificing the interests of affected citizens. This one rocks.
- Medical building and parking garage on the northeast corner of Bissonnet and Newcastle.
- Phases I and II of Evelyn’s Park Look forward to the Denim and Diamonds shindig. I got my table early!!
- Updating/upgrading of Russ Pitman Park
- Permitting of Bellaire HS ball fields on former Gordon ES/Mandarin Chinese HISD site. Tough losing oaks. But “the one constant through all the years has been baseball” so….
- H-E-B – Hard to see around the edge as I’m pulling out of the parking lot.
- Holly Street esplanade. Nothing necessarily against it, just not as solid as the others.
- (by far) Parking lot (now removed) at 4300 Bellaire Blvd. The antithesis of success. Unsuccessful initiative on every level, from every angle.
Ehlers:
Best — Redevelopment of Bellaire Town Center
Best — Updating/upgrading of Russ Pitman Park. This is an incredible asset to Bellaire.
3rd H-E-B – the zero lot line requirement in the UV-D district is a bad idea and makes exiting hazardous.
4th — Medical building and parking garage on the northeast corner of Bissonnet and Newcastle. The traffic will be awful and the zero lot line is not good.
5th — Permitting of Bellaire HS ball fields. Will cause constant quality of life issues with the neighbors.
6th — Phases I and II of Evelyn’s Park. Increases maintenance cost for the city
6th — Redevelopment of Holly Street esplanade. A real solution to stop people from driving on the esplanade is needed.
Worst — Parking lot (now removed) at 4300 Bellaire Blvd. This was illegal and flaunted zoning laws.
Montalvo:
- H-E-B – best, this H-E-B has so much to offer!
- Medical building and parking garage on the northeast corner of Bissonnet and Newcastle – acceptable, I am glad that something useful is being done with this terrain
- Redevelopment of Bellaire Town Center – acceptable
- Phases I and II of Evelyn’s Park – unacceptable, Even though I am excited about the changes, it is an eyesore.
- Updating/upgrading of Russ Pitman Park- acceptable
- Parking lot (now removed) at 4300 Bellaire Blvd. – worst, One of the worst failed projects that should have never happened.
- Permitting of Bellaire HS ball fields – acceptable, I am glad that this will benefit a high school.
- Redevelopment of Holly Street residential esplanade- unacceptable
Witt:
- H-E-B – Acceptable. Love shopping there, but wish it were set back farther from the street for easier entry and exit.
- Medical building and parking garage – Acceptable –
- Bellaire Town Center — Best. I love that I can have breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert in one place!
- Phases I and II of Evelyn’s Park- Best – Looking forward to seeing Phase II completed.
- Updating/upgrading of Russ Pitman Park – Acceptable
- Parking lot (now removed) at 4300 Bellaire Blvd.- Worst
- Permitting of Bellaire HS ball fields —Acceptable – I’m very happy we were able to keep so many of the mature oaks.
- Holly Street esplanade – Acceptable. Work is ongoing, but it will look great when the project is complete.
7. Discuss the balance of weighing neighborhood concerns in the planning process vs. what you may perceive as interests of the city.
Frazier: As past Bellaire Planning & Zoning Chair, I am uniquely qualified to balance private property rights with public interest. Meeting planning strategies requires Council to listen to community groups and measure what is being proposed in the planning process.
Newman: Listening to the needs of residents is vital to being a great member of Council. I feel shortsightedness is what has created some of the problems Bellaire currently faces. We need to focus on the future needs of the City.
Gordon: As Chair of the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission, I struggle with this every day. We aim to take every issue and weigh it on its specific merits (no blanket denials/approvals), to consider the context, to understand the facts, and to listen to the concerns. I will never be afraid to turn down a development which does not fit in Bellaire. But we also must balance reasonable protections with reasonable considerations of City-wide needs. In many of the recent actions of the Planning & Zoning Commission (e.g. HISD Baseball/Softball Fields, Bellaire Church of Christ Parking Lot), you will see nuanced and finely crafted conditions which address primary concerns of nearby residents, which restrict potential abuses, and which seek to improve conditions, all while allowing a community good to continue serving Bellaire. The North Bellaire Special Development District is another example of this, where we crafted the City’s most restrictive zoning district to ensure the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council had the full ability and right to ensure that whatever development is ultimately proposed will be crafted in a manner which emphasizes community protection, which serves the greater good, and which is of a scale that Bellaire can accommodate.
Vega: Finally an easy one! This is our city of homes; preserve it. Is anyone actually surprised that entrepreneurs try arbitraging residential real estate for commercial use? We just need to understand the temptation and be vigilant. Read my lips – “no commercial conversions in residential zones” Full stop. Litmus test. Easy.
Ehlers: Legitimate neighborhood concerns should have at least equal weight versus the interests of the city as a whole. The city is here for the residents’ enjoyment, not the city’s personal benefit. When citizens could be harmed in any way, the City needs to step back & reassess.
Montalvo: Bellaire is the city of homes. We should think of the greater good of Bellaire but with that comes the health, safety, and well-being of our residents. When listening to someone’s concerns, I want to offer a solution that will not turn into a problem for someone else. Balance is the key.
Witt: One of the many things that makes Bellaire special is zoning. Unlike in Houston, residents can have a reasonable expectation of future development plans. Even within these zoning guidelines, as a city, we will be faced with many important development decisions, and we have the opportunity to work together to find unique solutions that benefit everyone. A recent example of working together is the expansion of Bellaire’s Church of Christ parking lot. The idea was first met with resistance, but by working together, a solution was found. The magic happens when we are open to answers beyond “yes” or “no” and think creatively to find that “3rd option” that brings more benefits to more parties than either of the originally proposed solutions. I hope we come to the table with this mindset in future planning/zoning sessions to find ways for Bellaire to flourish and its citizens to be satisfied with the outcome.
8. Quick answer: What does Bellaire need more of? Less of?
Frazier: Additional sales tax revenues relieve some of the tax burden off the residents. No one wants to pay more in property taxes. However, commercial development must be consistent with our residential quality of life and community character. I am not advocating “big box” development in Bellaire.
Newman: We need more policing of our streets. Restore the “Do not speed through Bellaire” sentiment. We need less wasteful spending. Remove the pork from the budget.
Gordon: More community and less division. At our core, we are not an “us vs. them” city. Let’s govern with an optimistic vision of what we are and what we can become, focused on lifting the community up, not tearing it apart. I’m running to deliver good governance, to lead with a positive vision, to ensure flood resiliency, and to promote community.
Vega: More dog watering stations. Less cut-thru speeding on residential streets; shut it down Mo! You go sir!
Ehlers: More focus on debt reduction and cost recovery. Less funding costly initiatives.
Montalvo: Bellaire needs more transparency from the council. We should also offer more job offers for youngsters who want to get started making money and for those who have experience to make a difference in our community. We need less government regulation. And less taxes!
Witt: More of: Places for residents to spend their money in Bellaire. Less of: Flooding.
9. FEMA and flood insurance
Details are slowly emerging about how Bellaire property owners have lost their federal flood insurance discount of 15 percent because of failure by the city to provide required documentation in a timely fashion. If you were currently serving on City Council, what role — if any — would you take in responding to the situation?
Frazier: Under Bellaire’s Charter and form of government, the City Council does not directly oversee the staff departments. I see the Council as a Board of Directors. During my business career, I was a Vice President for a Fortune 500 Company, and I am uniquely qualified to understand management’s role in daily operation. The Council’s job is to hold the City Manager accountable, which it has done and is what I would do in this situation.
Newman: I would demand an immediate explanation as to why there was a lack of supervision and who was incompetent. Discipline all involved and heads would roll. Complacency is not acceptable to me and seems to be a theme within some City Hall departments. Missing a major deadline that affects all residents is unacceptable. Residents deserve qualified staff.
Gordon: This was unacceptable. Personnel action was rightly taken, and staff has committed to righting the ship. As a Flood Engineer specializing in helping cities lower their FEMA CRS score, I will work with staff to ensure we come out of this with a lower CRS score and a greater discount.
Vega: A good place for our good Mayor to demand accountability. Top to bottom, great city employees. But it’s indicative of an ongoing lack of good processes that existed long before current management’s tenure. But now they have a window to step up and fix it before it closes.
Ehlers: I would hold the person in charge ultimately responsible for the good and bad outcomes of the actions of city staff. This situation highlights a failure of leadership.
Montalvo: I think the city should step in and offer remediation. Bellaire should get in contact with the insurance companies and extend the chance for owners. The council should set up communication on the city website to explain to residents how to still apply for insurance.
Witt: This was a completely avoidable mistake. Sadly, the loss of the 15% discount will affect thousands of Bellaire households. The city manager should present to council a process to ensure that all future documents are submitted on time and continue working on ways to alleviate flooding and reduce flood insurance rates.
10. Personal insight: Bellaire has been hit hard by weather and COVID in recent years, into the present. What has helped you through these challenges — from what do you draw strength and inspiration?
Frazier: I have drawn incredible strength from my family. My wife is a physician and completely understands the effects of COVID. I am inspired when she discusses the wonderful work healthcare workers are doing to try and keep citizens safe. Recent weather conditions, particularly Harvey, have hit our city hard. However, I was inspired and indeed impressive to see the many citizens who stepped up to help their neighbors. Without question, The City of Bellaire came together in a way we should all be inspired.
Newman: Bellaire is resilient and our residents always pull together to create a wonderful place that we can all call home. It seems that our skill is to always bounce back and become stronger after each life changing event. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Gordon: Family and friends. Seeing our resiliency through hard times is inspiring; from kids who have rolled with the punches throughout COVID while never complaining, to a community of dog walkers who lift each other up in socially distant ways. We will come out of this stronger if we stick together.
Vega: ALL my Annapolis company-mates inspire me. One of them commanded all ground forces during the Afghanistan extraction. They live the risk/reward balance every day. I took several rescue swims on Lafayette St during Harvey, and spent 60 healthy days in National Parks with my kiddos during covid summer. Small victories.
Ehlers: My strength comes from my family and our commitment to love and support each other always, no matter what. I draw inspiration from seeing the difficult things people willingly do to help others – ordinary people who do extraordinary things: neonatal ICU nurses, soldiers, teachers, social workers.
Montalvo: I have relied on my family and college friends who encourage me to look for opportunities and made me realize how much I can giveback to the community. I have drawn inspiration from online artists and voice actors to do my own digital art and voiceover auditions.
Witt: The adversity that flooding, the freeze, and Covid have brought to Bellaire have also been galvanizing events for its residents. I have been inspired and touched to see how readily and generously neighbors who were strangers before have jumped in to help one another. We have gained a richer sense of community.
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