Nikki is a retired U.S. Army First Sergeant with 20 years of combat medical experience, ranging from a field medic to the United States Forces - Afghanistan Surgeon Sergeants Major.
She was selected to spearhead the integration of female Soldiers into previous all male combat arms units, is a member of the coveted Sergeant Audie Murphy Leadership Club and recipient of the Order of Military Medicine Medal. Nikki obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business, a Master of Science in Homeland Security, and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. Upon retiring in 2023, she chose New Braunfels, to call home.
Q: If elected, how would you support a thriving local economy, particularly small businesses, and ensure City policies encourage investment and long term economic vitality?
A: A thriving local economy is rooted in locally owned businesses. We need to encourage and support the diverse small business owners within New Braunfels city limits to keep money spent, in the local economy. New Braunfels is known for its unique history, natural beauty and charm, character, and long-standing annual traditions, festivals and events that draw thousands of tourists throughout the year. We need to maximize these opportunities to promote local businesses over large box stores, so locals and tourists alike can experience the true charm of New Braunfels. It is the responsibility of elected leaders and staff to ensure City policies are in place to protect small businesses and the image of the City.
Q: How are roads and major infrastructure projects funded, and what approach would you take to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with, or gets ahead of, growth?
A: Roads and major infrastructure are funded through Voter-Approved Bonds, New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (NBEDC), local Sales Tax (4B), Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funds, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) funds, as well as state/federal grants. At this point, New Braunfels infrastructure is already way behind the growth rate. In District 6 alone, there are entire neighborhoods and main roadways riddled with potholes, extremely rough and uneven surfaces. These issues are not only unsightly, but they are also hazardous to the citizens vehicles that must drive them every day. While growth is unavoidable, a solid plan to outline maintenance and improvements is needed to show how the city plans to bridge the gap between the rapid growth and progressively worsening infrastructure.
Q: What is your vision for long range planning in our city, and how would you balance proactive infrastructure investment with responsible fiscal management as the community grows?
A: New Braunfels founding fathers had a vision for the city and ordinances in place to protect that vision. With multiple rezoning requests and tall growing buildings, New Braunfels is rapidly losing the charm it is known for. Becoming indistinguishable from other Texas cities. Growth is inevitable; growth built on weak foundations has little chance at longevity. While long range planning is crucial for shaping the future of the city by allocating natural resources (water, farmland, green space), and reinforcing infrastructure (underground power lines, water and waste lines), we need a short-term plan to address maintenance and upkeep requirements. Water is life. While in a drought, it makes zero sense to add stress and strain on the current water supply. Let’s start with the end-state in mind: What do we, the current citizens and taxpayers want New Braunfels to look like for future generations? And how to do we protect that.