May 2022 Election: Joy Casnovsky

What made you want to run for this position?

Elgin is at a pivotal time in its growth and history and I feel I can make a positive contribution given my experience and leadership. 

What kind of experience - educational, professional or personal - do you bring to this position?

Public service has always been important to me. I served for two years in the US Peace Corps in Bolivia. Prior to that, I worked as a Park Ranger in our national parks. I hold a Masters degree in Public Leadership from the LBJ School at UT. 

For the past ten years, I've worked in non-profit administration. My professional experience has afforded me the ability to understand how governments and budgets work; the importance of stakeholder engagement and clear communication and solving problems when not everyone agrees.

I currently sit on the ACC Agricultural Sciences Advisory Committee, based right here in Elgin. The ACC campus is a gem for Elgin where not only can our high school students earn college credit, but they can also obtain their associates degree, setting them up to transfer to a four-year college or enter the workforce. Having the specific agricultural courses and degrees continues the rich tradition of agriculture in the Elgin community. I also volunteer with the Mary Christian Burleson Foundation. We have been working hard to restore the homestead and clean up the property, especially given Circle Brewery is the adjacent neighbor. It’s important to me that we find ways we can preserve our history to tell the story of our community for generations to come.

I served as chair for five years of the East MLK Combined Neighborhood Contact team. The role of this group was to act as the voice of the neighborhoods when it came to such topics as zoning and land use changes. As chair, I frequented the Planning Commission and City Council meetings to state the neighborhood’s approval or concerns with future development. Something I am most proud of was advocating for pedestrian bridges over the 183 toll road. Without this, neighborhoods would have been disconnected and not able to access amenities, like the YMCA, parks and bike paths.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Elgin?

The biggest challenge facing Elgin is not the growth, but it's how we, as leaders, work together. Very rarely is the problem the "why," it's usually the "how." We are not always going to agree, that is a given. But it's imperative that as leaders of our city, we treat each other and the community with respect. Our city council is bipartisan, one of the few places that folks with different viewpoints and lived experiences can come together in their common belief of improving our community together. 

How do you expect Elgin to adapt as Bastrop County’s population grows? Where do you see the city in five years?

With so many more houses in Bastrop County, I'll share what I'd like to see:

I want to see more people able to work from home because they have access to high speed internet; this also helps with road congestion.

I want to see more locally-owned restaurants, entertainment options and businesses that not only employ local Elginites, but cater to us.

I see even more recreational and library programs that cater to our youth.

I see Veteran's Memorial Park hosting more Music in the Park-esque events; people dining, shopping and sipping downtown after work, rather than seeking out entertainment options in Austin or Bastrop or Taylor.

I see neighborhoods connected via walking trails, offering families the option to exercise and convene with neighbors.

I see our seasoned historians in town looking to partner with younger, greener folks who are eager to learn and preserve our history as the region grows.

What is one issue you want to fix or improve if you take office?

One of my goals for being on City Council is to be accessible to Ward 1 residents. But it doesn't stop at just my interaction with those who I represent. I would like for the city to be more sophisticated in its communication to the community. It's fantastic that city council meetings can now be watched online, so we're moving in the right direction. I understand that we had ward meetings previously; I'd like to know why those stopped, and perhaps bring them back. We also need to improve our social media presence and messaging, since so many people consume information in this format.

Why should the voters choose you? What sets you apart from your opponent?

I have the experience and leadership we need for our community right now.

Website: www.joyforelgin.com

Facebook: joyforelgin