My name is Kirk Roccaforte and I am seeking the position of Bridge City Council Place 2. I currently hold the position as your Mayor, an honor that will end due to term limits. I have lived in Bridge City for 40 years, which includes 38-years as a home and business-owner. I am employed and President of Bridge City Radiator & Auto. I was married 37 wonderful years to recently passed, Shirley Roccaforte – best friend, soul mate, mother, grandmother and biggest supporter. I am the proud father of daughter, Cristal DuBois, son-in-law Coach Dwayne DuBois, son and business partner, Aaron Roccaforte, grandsons Camden and Caleb DuBois, and Trent Roccaforte.

Along with currently serving as Mayor of Bridge City, I am President of the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee, member of the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, member, Bridge City/Orangefield Rotary Club Board of Directors, and member of the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance (CSFI). I have a combined total of 22-years experience serving this community of resilient, hard-working citizens in many different capacities. My previous experience includes Bridge City Council, Place 3, 1994 – 1999; Bridge City Council Place 1, 2001 – 2006; Bridge City Mayor, 2006 – Present; Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission Executive Committee, 2011 – Present; past President Bridge City/Orangefield Rotary Club; and Orange County Airport Advisory Committee, along with various committee appointments related to all.

I am humbled to have been recognized with these honors; Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotarian of the Year and 2008-2009 Community Service Award, 2008 Bridge City Chamber and Orange Leader Person of the Year, 2009 Press Club of Southeast Texas Newsmaker of the Year, 2009 SETRPC Extraordinary Service and Commitment Award, 2015 Bridge City Chamber Roast Honoree, 2015 Bridge City Christmas Light Parade Grand Marshal.

During the past 22 years, I have seen this community grow in spite of many different adverse situations. The ice storm was trying, Hurricane Rita was very destructive and was just a lesson, as Hurricane Ike proved to be the worst disaster in the history of this community. With the lessons learned from Hurricane Rita, following Hurricane Ike, I was tasked with leading a devastated community to recovery. With the support of my wife, Shirley, my children, who were also devastated, my employees, and my immediate family, I took a six-month leave from my business to “live” at (what was left of) city hall. With the help of a hard working, very supportive city council, (some also living at city hall), city manager and staff, city employees, and citizens, we have almost completely recovered. During this trying time, I am proud to have been able to lead the fight for recovery. We fought for and were able to obtain temporary housing, mitigate infrastructure rehab and hardening with approximately some $20 million in recovery funds through many different methods. This has left our city much better prepared for any future events, such as storms or disasters, and our infrastructure much improved.

Through securing funds, without an increase in taxes, we are doing many other exciting improvement projects such as a water filtration system, new water line looping water towers, wastewater plant improvements, city park splash pad, records building, and new police station with city court. I am proud to have brought the agenda item to our council with 100 percent approval to put “In God We Trust” on our police fleet.

There are still just a few, unfinished projects I am currently involved in, such as the appeal of the FEMA rate maps that is critical to our city, the national flood insurance program (NFIP) legislation of which I will continue to fight for, along with CSFI, to sustain affordable flood insurance also the GCCPRD, Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District, study and plans for a coastal levee system. It has been an honor to serve this great community, and hope to continue to serve our citizens. As always my door is open to serve you. You may contact me anytime – City Hall, 409-735-6801; Work, 409-735-7777; or Home, 409-735-5750.

Early voting is at the Bridge City ISD Administration Building, 1031 W. Roundbunch Road, which is behind the elementary school, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday, April 25 through Friday April 29, and 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday, May 2, and Tuesday, May 3. Election day is Saturday, Ma7 from7 a.m. – 7 p.m. I would appreciate your support. Please vote: KIRK ROCCAFORTE for COUNCIL PLACE 2. Thank you and God bless.