Patrick Abell
Patrick Abell ran for election to the Garland City Council to represent District 6 in Texas. He lost in the general election on May 4, 2019.
Abell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2019
See also: City elections in Garland, Texas (2019)
General election
General election for Garland City Council District 6
Incumbent Robert Vera defeated Patrick Abell in the general election for Garland City Council District 6 on May 4, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Robert Vera (Nonpartisan) | 64.0 | 242 |
 | Patrick Abell (Nonpartisan)  | 36.0 | 136 | |
| Total votes: 378 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2019
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Patrick Abell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Abell's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
My top three priorities will be Crime prevention, Residential and Commercial redevelopment and fighting for property tax reduction/fiscal responsibility.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about public service. Either through committees, boards and commissions and volunteer opportunities. I truly believe the phrase, Be the Difference. It is my guiding principle.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
I look up to any person that serves their community. There are too many people to list and there is no contribution too small.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
One of my favorite movies is The Blind Side. I love the selfless message it sends. The fact that it was based on the story of Michael Oher is inspirational to me. I dedicate as much time as I can to my daughters school. I want to show the students that there are people other than relatives that care about their well being.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honesty, accessibility, openness to learn from examples and accept when you are wrong, a willingness to answer to constituents and a servant mentality.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am a loyal servant and volunteer in my community. I am eager to help our community grow and spread the word about all that Garland has to offer.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The responsibilities that are essential to this position is the ability to listen to residents, return correspondence and most importantly transparency. City Councils have a fiduciary responsibility to the residents of their cities. We expect residents to live on a budget and council should make every attempt to trim their cities expenses without a degradation of service.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to leave a legacy of service. People should never be too proud to roll up their sleeves and assist were needed with no expectation of compensation. You have to be willing to give from the heart.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The first major historical event I remember was the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion. I was in Elementary school and remember the faces of my peers and teachers to this day. The helplessness was unbearable.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked at Everything's a Dollar in the mall. I was there for 3 years. I worked up the chain and left the store as assistant manager when the company closed.
What happened on your most awkward date?
A toddler at the table next to us was taking food off of every plate at his table and throwing every where. We had to get moved and our meal remade due to food flying into our plates. The parents would not correct the child and there were 4 tables adjacent to the child that could not be used on New Years Eve. It was very awkward.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the fact that you can embrace the costumes and wander around meeting new people without the usual tension m
What is your favorite book? Why?
I love The Odyssey by Homer. The book shows the reader that even if you have the best plan you have to be able to handle curve balls thrown at you. The path between beginning and end will change and with persistence and a willingness to adapt you will achieve your goals
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I would love to be Doctor Emmitt Brown from Back to the Future. There are so many historical events that I would love to see first hand.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My favorite thing in my home is my family. Without them my home would not be complete. No matter the size or location a person who has a loving family is truly a rich person.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Metallica... Wherever I May Roam.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I struggle with taking time for myself. I am devoted to my family, friends and community and sometimes forget to stop and rest myself.
Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?
City Council members are influencers. They want to help the people and the community grow. They want to help people enjoy their community.
What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?
An openness to listen, learn and be willing to give your all to the residents that you answer to.
What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?
Ir possesses the ability to serve a large group of people and to help the common good of the people.
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?
It is beneficial but not required. Some of the most successful people in history failed or overcame many challenges to become the icons that they are today.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2019 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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