All five candidates were sent invitations on March 24, Rebecca Belcher, the group’s president said. However, only two of the five candidates were able to adjust their schedudles to attend.
Clarifying the group’s purpose, Belcher said: “I want to make it very clear that ... our organization is continually mislabeled as anti-drilling, that is simlpy not the case and I want to squash that claim right now.”
She explained to the audience that the group has no objections to rural drilling where land holders welcome it on their large properties.
“What we are firmly against is urban drilling in those areas that are highly residential and where drilling will have negative impacts to our safety, our health and our overall quality of life.”
Place 2 incumbent Al Filidoro agrees. “This is not a gas issue. This is not a drilling issue. This is a quality of life issue,” he said at the forum. “I am personally opposed to having a gas well in my backyard or your backyard. At the same time, I respect your right to not sell your mineral rights if you chose not to because mineral rights are an ownership issue and I would never propose to block somebody from selling something that’s theirs within the limits of law.”
Virginia Jellison, Place 4 candidate, thinks urban drilling belongs in industrial areas. “It has no place near our homes or near our schools or near our churches,” she said. “We need to zone it. Southlake did it.” She also thinks the town should consult its ordinances, zoning, master plan and SMARTGrowth regarding urban drilling.
Flower Mound resident Brian Hoffman and wife Dana were among the 98 in attendance. “I’m disappointed in the lack of turn out. I have more homework to do,” he said after the forum. “Certainly, I know where these candidates stand. I wish I knew where the other ones stood.”