City Council Hires Art Martinez de Vara As City Attorney
At the very first City Council meeting of the City of Sandy Oaks, Art Martinez de Vara sat at the table of the City Council members with his own official paper nameplate that showed his position as City Attorney. The Council had never hired an attorney and the position of City Attorney had never been […]
Community Lied to by Art Martinez De Vara’s Newspaper
Starting Monday, July 28th, a newspaper called “The Sandy Oaks Chronicle” was handed out to residents of Waterwood and the City of Sandy Oaks. On page 4 of the newspaper there is a section titled “OFFICE: BOARD OF ALDERMEN” and the second to last sentence reads: All candidates were invited to participate in this voter’s […]
Orduno’s and Clement’s Secret Meeting
The Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks (CISO) worked for 3+ years to get the community of Waterwood and the surrounding area to be released from San Antonio’s ETJ and to incorporate into its own city. But the process of incorporation hardly involved the community and even now people are realizing that the “City of Sandy […]
Results of Small Town Politics
The very first City Council of Sandy Oaks, Texas was elected August 9, 2014. 2014 Candidates Political games started the same month that Sandy Oaks incorporated. The Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks had said at a public meeting before incorporation that they would announce the deadline for application for people to run for city office. […]
Election Days for First City Council
Here are the days and times for voting for the first city council of Sandy Oaks: Mon 7/28 thru Fri 8/1 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sat 8/2 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Mon 8/4 thru Tue 8/5 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM Final Day to Vote: Sat 8/9 Hours should be 7:00 AM – […]
3rd Candidates Meeting, SOPAC Still Doesn’t Attend
On July 22, 2014, candidates running for City Council met for a 3rd and final time before the election. The event was hosted by Catherine Rendahl and her husband Don who rented the Waterwood clubhouse and set up tables and chairs for people. “Air Conditioning!” said Rendahl. “It should keep people calmer than last time.” […]
Candidates Host 2nd Meeting, SOPAC Does Not Attend
People are now starting to call them the “Outsiders” because Micki Ball, Cathleen Recio, and David Tremblay are the only candidates outside of the Sandy Oaks Political Action Committee (SOPAC). On July 14, 2014, the three organized a 2nd meeting for the community for people to meet those running for city offices. The divide between […]
Meet the Candidates Meeting
On July 8, 2014, a “Meet the Candidates” meeting was held in the Waterwood clubhouse. The event was organized by Jim Clement, the only candidate running for mayor. 23 people were present, including all the candidates running for alderman positions except for David Tremblay. Inside the clubhouse, chairs were arranged in a wide oval allowing […]
Dissecting SOPAC’s Proposed Revenue
In the meeting held at the Waterwood Clubhouse on July 8th, many items were discussed. One of the most important was that of revenue. Now that Waterwood and surrounding areas have incorporated into the City of Sandy Oaks, there needs to be revenue to pay for what the city needs. The entire point of having […]
Jim Clement 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Jim Clement was contacted and asked to answer the following questions. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the first three ordinances you would like to pass (besides those that first set up the municipality)? What do you think is […]
Joel Ortega 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Earnest Gay, Doug Tomasini, Dale Burmaster, and Jim Clement (all SOPAC members), were contacted and asked to answer the following questions as well as invite Pedro Orduno and Joel Ortega, also SOPAC members. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the […]
Pedro Orduno 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Earnest Gay, Doug Tomasini, Dale Burmaster, and Jim Clement (all SOPAC members), were contacted and asked to answer the following questions as well as invite Pedro Orduno and Joel Ortega. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the first three ordinances […]
Douglas Tomasini 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Douglas Tomasini was contacted and asked to answer the following questions. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the first three ordinances you would like to pass (besides those that first set up the municipality)? What do you think is […]
Earnest Gay 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Earnest Gay was contacted and asked to answer the following questions. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the first three ordinances you would like to pass (besides those that first set up the municipality)? What do you think is […]
Dale Burmaster 2014 Platform
As of 5pm July 15th, Dale Burmaster was contacted and asked to answer the following questions. Platform: What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? What are the first three ordinances you would like to pass (besides those that first set up the municipality)? What do you think is […]
David Tremblay 2014 Platform
The following was submitted by Mr. David Tremblay July 16th, 2014 Picture: Platform: My platform is simple; fiscal responsibility, transparency, community involvement, an affordable tax rate and providing emergency services to the residents of Sandy Oaks. What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? Within the first year, I hope to develop […]
Micki Ball 2014 Platform
The following was submitted by Mrs. Micki Ball July 17th, 2014 Picture: Platform: I wish to be an advocate for the citizens ensuring that everyone is informed, no debt is incurred by the city, and additional taxes not be imposed initially, if ever. Without understanding the existing tax base and any potential revenue opportunities through […]
Cathleen Lamoureaux-Recio 2014 Platform
The following was submitted by Mrs. Cathleen Lamoureaux-Recio July 16th, 2014 Picture: Platform: Platform: community initiative neighbor helping neighbor with a supportive city counsel and without causing further financial burden on the already economically stressed homeowner. What specifically would you like to accomplish in the first year? 2) I/we would like to try to clean […]
City of Sandy Oaks Map
Here is a map of Sandy Oaks. A larger version can be seen by clicking the link below. SandyOaks-2.4 Problems With the Sandy Oaks Map No Highway Art Martinez de Vara, mayor of Von Ormy and the consultant for the Sandy Oaks Political Action Committee (SOPAC) and the Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks (CISO) has […]
Give Your Opinion
The goal of Sandy Oaks News is to be a source of information for the community. But that doesn’t mean that only SON needs to give information. The Forum section of the website is open for people to post whatever they would like. But if you are wanting to add a little more and would […]
2014 Candidates
The names of those running for political office are below. You can also click a name to read that person’s platform as well as answers to some questions posed by SandyOaksNews.com Running for the position of Mayor Jim Clement Running for the 5 Alderman positions Micki Ball Dale Burmaster Earnest Gay Cathleen Lamoureaux-Recio Pedro Orduno […]
What Type of Government Will Sandy Oaks Be?
Sandy Oaks will be a Type A municipality with an aldermaic form of government. The city will start off with 1 mayor and 5 aldermen. An alderman is the same as a city councilman and the word originates from the combination of “Elder-man.” Who Decides Things? The mayor decides what is on the agenda for […]
Quick Facts on the Incorporation of Sandy Oaks
Those residing in Waterwood are now part of the City of Sandy Oaks. This also includes some residents living on the roads of Priest, Mathis, and Star Oaks Dr. How Did This Happen? Members of the Waterwood POA formed a group called the “Committee to Incorporate Sandy Oaks” also known as CISO. This was spearheaded […]
Purpose of Sandy Oaks News
Hi and welcome to Sandy Oaks News. This website and news outlet was created to be a source of information for the newly formed City of Sandy Oaks. Let’s Keep It Brief Sometimes news will be in-depth and sometimes it will be brief and give you the basics. Let’s face it, no one wearing a […]