Wesley Alexander As Lampasas develops its economy and services, Wesley Alexander believes his law enforcement experience will help the City Council provide for a growing town’s needs.

Alexander moved to Lampasas from the Temple area in 1993, when he began working for the Lampasas Police Department.

He has more than 30 years of experience in public safety work, including narcotics and fire investigations during 11 years with the Temple Police Department and four years as a full-time emergency medical services shift captain in Lampasas.

In addition, Alexander volunteered as a firefighter in Belton and has been a Lampasas volunteer firefighter since 1993. He has worked full-time in law enforcement in Williamson County since 2006.

Work in public service is important for a City Council candidate, Alexander said, because the council addresses issues about everything from streets to parks to public safety.

“I think the council should have somebody on it who knows about each of those things ...,” he said. “[Public safety is] an area where I feel I can add something to ... an already good council.”

Strengthening Lampasas’ economy is Alexander’s most important goal. Combined efforts from the City Council, the Lampasas Economic Development Corp., the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce and Vision Lampasas! will enable Lampasas to recruit new businesses that will benefit the city, the candidate said.

The City Council should welcome new businesses, Alexander said, as he believes economic growth gives Lampasans more options for their purchases.

“We can’t keep a business out of town just because there’s already another one like it here,” he said. “Competition is good. If both businesses can make it, that’s good, because if both businesses are good we can attract people here to shop.”

VL’s revitalization work is proceeding well, he said. City officials should continue to support those efforts, he added, as Alexander said he believes an attractive downtown can motivate businesses to move to Lampasas.

To plan for growth, the council candidate said city officials should set deadlines for annexing certain areas — particularly south and east of town, where Austin’s and Killeen’s outward growth will be felt most.

“The best time to annex [land] is actually before a lot of people move in,” Alexander said, “because after people have moved in, a lot of people will fight it.”

A specific annexation schedule also helps potentially affected property owners prepare, he said.

Alexander hopes to help the City Council plan for the additional infrastructure, and fire and police personnel, Lampasas will need as it grows. Fire substations may need to be built as city officials annex land, he said, adding that all residents should have a fire station within five miles of their homes.

The existing fire station has the greatest funding need, however, Alexander said.

“Before money is spent on a substation, I’d like to see the money spent on a central station.” In another matter, Alexander said next year will be a good time to expand the Lampasas Public Library and build a civic center, if voters approve bonds for those projects.

Lampasas long has needed a large meeting area, Alexander said. A civic center, he noted, can host conferences, training sessions or other events that he said will increase sales tax revenue.

“The more people you draw here, the more they’re going to spend,” Alexander said. “Also, some people who come here to visit may decide they want to live here.”

The candidate said the friendly, cooperative spirit he observed in Lampasas persuaded him to move to the community. Alexander and his wife, Lacy, have been married since 2002. Alexander’s son, Jeremy, is a Marine sergeant in a reconnaissance unit, and his daughter, Amanda, is a senior at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park.

Alexander also has two stepsons: Christopher, who is working toward a fire science degree at Blinn College, and Bradley, a Lampasas High School sophomore.