By George Slaughter
Dharminder Dargan, an engineer, is seeking his first term on the Katy City Council. He is seeking the Ward A seat presently held by incumbent Janet Corte.
Corte is seeking reelection. Diane Walker, a life insurance broker, has also filed for the seat.
Term of office is three years.
1. Why do you want this job?
I have been a Katy resident for six years and a Texan for 20+ years. I deeply care about the community, and have led several community development and engagement programs in the past. Now, I would like to bring my decades of technical skills and my passion for community development to our city’s council and serve our Katy community on a grander scale.
2. Briefly discuss your professional background, and how that will help if you if elected.
I am an engineer by profession and have worked in the energy sector for over 20+ years, executing large infrastructure and technical programs. I have a multicultural background and have served people from all walks of life. At this time, Katy is growing at a very fast speed. We need people who are both technically savvy and can execute and provide oversight to large projects. My background perfectly fills this gap: my work in the industrial sector has focused on developing and managing power generation projects all across the south. I am also a small-business owner. Given my work experience, I have the skills and vision to start, manage, and complete large scale projects while also making sure all voices and perspectives are heard in the process. I am ready to apply my skills towards building a better Katy for all.
3. If elected, what would your top three priorities for the city be, and why?
My top priorities will always be the development of the community and its people. Here are three as a list: (1) Property tax reduction, (2) Developing a comprehensive flood control plan for the City of Katy, and (3) Creating better communication plans for transparency between the City of Katy, Katy residents, and small business owners. I believe all three of these are important to the foundation of our growing Katy community. These factors are important to the lives of all residents in Katy.
4. “Smart growth” has become a catchphase for managing the city’s growth. How would you define “smart growth,” and what measures would you support towards that end?
As stated before, I am an engineer, so I deeply appreciate and understand the technological portion very well. To me, “smart growth” means to provide Katy’s residents and businesses with the tailored resources that will allow them to excel and flourish. Katy has already seen over a 50% growth in population since the last census record. Katy needs to focus on incorporating modern infrastructure and technologies. We need to focus on programs which are designed for the future. There are many outdated programs and processes which are in critical need of technological update.
We need to accommodate and take advantage of this population growth, by providing residents with safer neighborhoods, better infrastructure, better technologies, and better job opportunities that will insure sustained economic growth and cultural growth.
5. How have you been able to campaign, given the pandemic restrictions (avoiding large gatherings, social distancing, and so forth)?
I value the health and safety of everyone, especially my fellow Katy residents. As such, I have been taking all the safety precautions while grassroots canvassing throughout Katy. I have also been engaging with Katy citizens through social media platforms (www.facebook.com/dargan4katy).
6. Is there anything else about your candidacy that Katy News readers should know?
Given the circumstances brought about by the pandemic, Katy’s need for strong leadership and new perspectives is more important now than ever before. I think it is time for a change in some of the leadership in Katy, and I am ready to serve our Katy community. Let’s build a better Katy, together!