Couch coy about re-election bidPosted on March 9, 2009 at 3:24 pm • Print • Share
San Marcos Councilmember Pam Couch (center) is mum about a possible bid for re-election against Lisa Marie Coppoletta, who already has announced a run for her seat. Couch is flanked by Mayor Susan Narvaiz (left) and Councilmember John Thomaides (right), whose seat also is up for election this November. Photo by Andy Sevilla.
By ANDY SEVILLA
Associate Editor
Inundated with interest-sparking legislation recently, the San Marcos City Council could be in for a flavor of intrigue that’s less legislative and more political in nature.
Place 5 Councilmember Pam Couch’s term expires in November. Lisa Marie Coppoletta, who fell short in a bid against Councilmember Chris Jones in November 2008, announced her candidacy for Couch’s seat in January. Faced with possible unofficial campaigning far ahead of the election, Couch has decided to remain mum on her future plans.
“I don’t want to feel pressured to have to announce (candidacy) so early,” Couch said. “I don’t think it’s proper. In August everybody will know.”
Couch said Coppoletta’s candidacy announcement will neither influence nor dictate her actions. Couch said, as of now, she is unsure of whether she will seek re-election, adding that she has “to weigh out (her) options.”
Said Couch, “Everyone will know in August whether or not I’ll be running again.”
For now, Couch said she is focusing on her family, her business, and on her current policy making seat. As a councilmember, she said her priorities lie in creating local jobs and improving education. She said education in local schools is a top priority, as is education for San Marcos residents and elected officials.
“Our citizens need to know what’s going on at our city council meetings,” Couch said. “We are facing very important decisions and we need to hear from them, and help educate them. And we (councilmembers) need the education, too, to make good decisions.”
Couch said that before each council meeting, she seeks for “the full picture” of every item on the agenda. She said she arrives each meeting with approximately 90 percent certainty of how she will vote, but added that she remains open to concerns and suggestions from colleagues and San Marcos residents.
“I’ll be thinking about being honest and having integrity with my vote,” Couch said. “I have to vote with what I feel is best for the community.”
Days before each council meeting, Couch said she and a council colleague, whose name she would not reveal, meet with city staff and the city manager to get all the necessary material and to ask questions in efforts to “see the big picture.” Couch said she is provided the necessary resources to “vote intelligently” through homework, citizen input, seeing how the issue coincides with the council goals,and prayer.
“I take very serious what I’m here to do,” Couch said. “God opened the door for me to serve and do my job. It’s an incredible journey. And I’m very humbled that I’m getting to do this journey.”
Place 6 Councilmember John Thomaides’ term expires this year, as well. Thomaides has not announced if he will run, nor has anyone else announced a run for that seat. Former council candidate Jude Prather announced his candidacy Monday, but without specifying which seat he will pursue.
Couch was first elected to office in 2006, running unopposed after former councilmembers John Diaz and Bill Taylor withdrew their candidacies just one day after the filing deadline.
Couch is a local business owner of 15 years, owning both Two P’s Boutique and Calli’s Boutique.
Her husband, Bucky Couch, heads U.S. operations for StepStone, a European software company. Couch has three kids, Calli Swindle, Cody Couch, and Adam Couch, and has two grandchildren with “one on the way.”
