CHARTER NOMINEE
Supporters point out Buzan’s long history of community support
Not everyone is happy a potential mayoral candidate is taking a prominent spot on a nine-member committee to review revisions to the city charter, with some worried about a potential conflict of interest.
Others, however, are noting James Buzan is a good fit because of his extensive community works, his local ties and his business acumen.
Meanwhile during the Thursday City Council session, members on the dais heard concerns about data centers and got an update on a high-tech business that could become the city’s second-largest employer.
Regarding the charter review committee, Mayor Dwayne Ariola nominated Buzan to the first seat, with approval from the rest of the council.
The backlash online was swift from some quarters.
“This isn’t a minor oversight — it’s a fundamental violation of good governance principles. Charter review committees wield significant influence over the structural rules of city government,” one Taylor resident posted in a reaction to the vote. “Placing someone with declared political ambitions on such a committee creates an inherent conflict where personal interest directly intersects with institutional redesign.”
Buzan announced on Facebook he intends to run for mayor in the May election.
Supporters note Buzan, a member of a prominent Taylor family, has a long history of doing good works in the area.
He sits on the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission, is on the board of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce and is a Taylor Independent School District trustee. He also co-owns The 74 Man Store, a downtown retail business.
“While serving in the community over the past several years, I have listened to your concerns, shared your challenges and celebrated our community’s many achievements. I’m 100% committed to Taylor and ask for your support and vote,” Buzan said in a Nov. 28 social-media post announcing his upcoming candidacy.
Buzan did not immediately respond to the Taylor Press regarding the charter review committee.
In addition to confirming members nominated before the meeting, the council approved four additional appointments.
The committee will include:
• Buzan, nominated by Ariola
• Betty Day, nominated by Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Cmerek
• Teri Williams, nominated by Councilman Greg Redden
• Christine Lopez, nominated by Councilwoman Shelli Cobb
• John McDonald, nominated by Councilwoman Heather Long
• Gary Gola, Peter Bryan, John Harper and Jackie Krueger After the council meeting, other residents weighed in on Buzan’s appointment.
“Putting a declared mayoral candidate on a charter review committee — a body that can influence the powers, structure and rules of the very office he’s seeking — is a clear conflict of interest,” one woman said. “Even if everyone involved claims good intentions, the optics alone undermine public trust. Charter review must be neutral, independent, and free from personal political ambition.”
Community asks for data-center ordinances Although the scheduled public hearing for the Project Comal data center was postponed by the applicant, some community members still showed up to speak about the development.
Project Comal is a planned facility on a 210-acre lot at 1051 CR 401, adjoining Samsung Austin Semiconductor.
At a November P&Z commission meeting to review the developer’s zoning-change request, almost a dozen residents aired their concerns regarding not just Project Comal, but the city’s policy on data centers in general.
Those sentiments echoed an earlier controversy surrounding the Blueprint Data Centers on the city’s southeast side, which residents tried to stop in a lawsuit.
Carrie D’Anna was one of the residents who spoke at the P&Z meeting as well as Thursday’s council meeting.
D’Anna asked city leaders to update city regulations to ensure residents can maintain their quality of life before approving any more local data centers.
“All over the country we’re having data centers come up in many, many communities and they’re changing their zoning properties and their guidelines to do things like, instead of notifying residents 200 feet away, they’re doing half a mile,” D’Anna said.
Taylor residents concerned about the effects of data centers are not alone.
On Dec. 8, a coalition of more than 230 national, state and local organizations urged Congress to place a moratorium on new data centers nationwide, citing vast water usage and rising electricity bill increases.
Council members will consider Project Comal’s request for a zoning change at a later meeting.
