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Place 2 candidates on the ACC
By Kim Nguyen, Staff Writer
Ben Harris and Susan Plonka have both kicked-off their campaigns for the Plano City Council. The two candidates are vying for Scott Johnson’s vacant Place 2 seat.
Among the hot topics for debate during the election season is the Arts of Collin County. A controversial subject for many Plano residents and city leaders, the arts hall has reported having nearly 80 percent of funding in place and the ACC Commission is now focusing efforts into private fundraising.
Ben Harris and Susan Plonka, both Place 2 candidates, have a similar approach to the arts hall project. Both expressed much interest in the completion of the project and emphasized the importance of collecting the remaining $17 million in private funds to break ground.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea considering how many people are involved in and support the arts,” she said. “We build huge sports arenas which don’t always cater to the same crowd size as the arts and I’m glad Plano recognized that and pledged to contribute.”
Encouraged by the positive feedback in public fundraising led by Mike Simpson, Harris is confidant that the project will be completed as planned and will be beneficial to Plano and the surrounding areas.
“The sooner it is completed, the sooner it will be beneficial to the area because it will attract businesses and shows,” he said. “It will be a very nice attraction to the area.”
However, with nearly $17 million to collect before groundbreaking, both Plonka and Harris agree that the remaining funds should not come from taxpayer monies.
“Plano has already done everything they can by pledging $19 million to the arts hall,” Plonka said. “I want to see it succeed and for my children to attend concerts there, but those funds need to be raised privately.”
Harris agrees and thinks the ACC Commission will not have many problems finding area companies to contribute.
“As a Plano resident, the main thing to remember is that the ACC Commission has said they do not intend to come back and ask for taxpayer revenue to fund the rest of the project,” he said. “If they did, it would fall into the hands of Plano citizens to vote, but I am confident to see the project go through as planned using private funding.”
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