I want to publicly thank everyone who has hosted me in their home to discuss my vision for Frisco. I have really enjoyed discussing our City, past, present and future with our citizens. I have learned a lot about what is important to you and I hope you have learned something from me.
I want to recognize my campaign team for their hard work and dedication; I could not do this without them. By election time, we will have had over 25 meet and greets in homes along with several events and debates/forums. Yes, it is a hectic schedule :-)
The Monday morning "Coffee with the Maher" meetings are going great. We are filling the room at Le Peep restaurant. YOU ARE INVITED! Please join us for coffee and muffins as we discuss issues that are important to our future. This is an informal gathering; come as you are! Join us from 7:30-8:30am every Monday. Le Peep is located at the Southwest corner of Preston and Stonebrook. I hope to see you there.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Community Saturday
Campaign season is usually very busy, but today took that to a new level. I really enjoyed with visiting with hundreds of our residents. Keep in mind, on my mind the entire day was my son, Brandon. This was the day that he would be taking his flight-test and becoming certified as a private pilot. It was hard to focus at times knowing he was "up" there.
The day started innocently enough. We had an early "cold" soccer game for my 10-year old goalkeeper daughter. It was exciting because the two first-place teams played each other. It was exciting to watch out team play the best game as they pulled out a win 3-1.
Our first event was the Grayhawk Spring Festival which was held at Boals Elementary. The HOA was kind enough to invite all the candidates. Some of our campaign team joined me as we met many of the homeowners. This was an example of a community creating an atmosphere that welcomes the residents to get out and meet each other. The HOA should be congratulated for being practive. The food was great and the kid's activities were really fun (I know, Layna was there playing!)
We quickly left Grayhawk to meet up with some of the volunteers who were visiting residents by going door-to-door. From there, we rushed over to another group of volunteers who were setting up a tent at the Kyle Lee Memorial Golf Tournament, where we sponsored a hole.
The day did not end there as we again sped off (at the legal speed limit :-) ) to the Panther Creek HOA social at mourning dove park. The HOA, again, was very gracious in inviting all the candidates to their event. Panther Creek really made it a fun event by having a crawfish boil, music and activities for the kids. Turnout was very high! Way to go HOA board and Social Committee!
The day did not end there; we were not able to stay until the end. Party of my campaign team stayed at the crawfish boil and the rest of us went to attend a meet and greet at Hunters Creek. THis was one of over 25 meet and greets.
I want to close by saying how blessed Val and I are that we have so much support and help. This campaign is very time consuming and we could not do it without your support and help. Thank You!
The day started innocently enough. We had an early "cold" soccer game for my 10-year old goalkeeper daughter. It was exciting because the two first-place teams played each other. It was exciting to watch out team play the best game as they pulled out a win 3-1.
Our first event was the Grayhawk Spring Festival which was held at Boals Elementary. The HOA was kind enough to invite all the candidates. Some of our campaign team joined me as we met many of the homeowners. This was an example of a community creating an atmosphere that welcomes the residents to get out and meet each other. The HOA should be congratulated for being practive. The food was great and the kid's activities were really fun (I know, Layna was there playing!)
We quickly left Grayhawk to meet up with some of the volunteers who were visiting residents by going door-to-door. From there, we rushed over to another group of volunteers who were setting up a tent at the Kyle Lee Memorial Golf Tournament, where we sponsored a hole.
The day did not end there as we again sped off (at the legal speed limit :-) ) to the Panther Creek HOA social at mourning dove park. The HOA, again, was very gracious in inviting all the candidates to their event. Panther Creek really made it a fun event by having a crawfish boil, music and activities for the kids. Turnout was very high! Way to go HOA board and Social Committee!
The day did not end there; we were not able to stay until the end. Party of my campaign team stayed at the crawfish boil and the rest of us went to attend a meet and greet at Hunters Creek. THis was one of over 25 meet and greets.
I want to close by saying how blessed Val and I are that we have so much support and help. This campaign is very time consuming and we could not do it without your support and help. Thank You!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Busy Early march
The one thing you can't say during campaign season is that you have nothing to do! March 2nd started with a big sign-making party at my house. I did not realize how BIG! I did not count, but parking was at a premium and my guess was well over 50 volunteers showed up. I remember back in 2000 when I ran my first campaign, Val and I were out there with the hammer and nails. We are truly luck to have so many friends and supporters. I will post pictures soon!
Coffee with the "Maher" have on Monday mornings have been going great. I have met many new people and have had the opportunity to hear the concerns of our citizens. We are now in the big room in the back at Le Peep (it is a nice problem to have outgrowing the large round table in front! Don't forget to join me at Le Peep every Monday morning from 7:30-8:30AM.
It has also been a busy with with answering questionnaires from different entities. At times, it is hard to keep up, but I enjoy discussing the long-term vision of our City and our accomplishments. The week ended early with several cancellations due to the weather.
This Time in History
I thought I would share some of the things that took place during this period over the last few years while I served on council.
Early March, 2000 -- I attended a meeting with the City Council that discussed the Frisco Jetport (I worked hard with a group of citizens to not allow an airport in the middle of our City). During this period, I was also a candidate for City Council, which I eventually won. It was a busy time with many meetings.
Early March, 2001 -- During this period, I was full in full swing in my first year on City Council. We had a joint City Council/P&Z meeting during the first week in March. Many other meetings during the week including one with our downtown merchants.
Early March, 2002 -- More meetings (I sound like a broken record!). This is the first time I met congressional candidate Keith Self during his campaign. I also had a meeting with the board of the Frisco Community Theatre (all on a Sunday). The rest of the week was made up of Tax Increment Finance District Meetings, Art Board Meetings and a citizen meeting.
Early March, 2003 -- Highlight of the week was the 2nd annual police awards dinner at St. Francis. We had a joint meeting with our housing trust fund board and also held an appreciation dinner for our boards and commissions.
Early March, 2004 -- My first year as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, appointed by the council. Lots of other meetings (almost every day).
Coffee with the "Maher" have on Monday mornings have been going great. I have met many new people and have had the opportunity to hear the concerns of our citizens. We are now in the big room in the back at Le Peep (it is a nice problem to have outgrowing the large round table in front! Don't forget to join me at Le Peep every Monday morning from 7:30-8:30AM.
It has also been a busy with with answering questionnaires from different entities. At times, it is hard to keep up, but I enjoy discussing the long-term vision of our City and our accomplishments. The week ended early with several cancellations due to the weather.
This Time in History
I thought I would share some of the things that took place during this period over the last few years while I served on council.
Early March, 2000 -- I attended a meeting with the City Council that discussed the Frisco Jetport (I worked hard with a group of citizens to not allow an airport in the middle of our City). During this period, I was also a candidate for City Council, which I eventually won. It was a busy time with many meetings.
Early March, 2001 -- During this period, I was full in full swing in my first year on City Council. We had a joint City Council/P&Z meeting during the first week in March. Many other meetings during the week including one with our downtown merchants.
Early March, 2002 -- More meetings (I sound like a broken record!). This is the first time I met congressional candidate Keith Self during his campaign. I also had a meeting with the board of the Frisco Community Theatre (all on a Sunday). The rest of the week was made up of Tax Increment Finance District Meetings, Art Board Meetings and a citizen meeting.
Early March, 2003 -- Highlight of the week was the 2nd annual police awards dinner at St. Francis. We had a joint meeting with our housing trust fund board and also held an appreciation dinner for our boards and commissions.
Early March, 2004 -- My first year as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, appointed by the council. Lots of other meetings (almost every day).
Monday, April 7, 2008
Collin County Association of Realtors Endorses Maher Maso for Mayor
Press Release
For Immediate Release Contact: Kyle Tarrance
Ph: 214.546.1829
Email: andrea@masoformayor.com
COLLIN COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
ENDORSE MAHER MASO IN FRISCO MAYOR’S RACE
Maso honored to receive key endorsement
FRISCO, TX, APRIL 7, 2008 – The Maher Maso Campaign today announced the endorsement of the Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR) in the race for Frisco Mayor.
“We carefully evaluated both candidates and we believe Maher Maso is the best prepared to lead Frisco,” said Linda Taylor, Chair, CCAR’s Government Affairs Committee. “Maher has the right background and experience needed to carefully plan for our growth and expansion.”
“I am proud and deeply honored to have the support of such a great organization,” Maso said. “I support and commend their goals of protecting the real estate market and keeping home ownership affordable.”
Maher Maso moved to Frisco in 1992 with his wife, Val and 3 children. Since that time, Maher quickly established himself as a community leader through his tireless work in the civic and non-profit communities. Maher served on the Frisco City Council for seven years, and was appointed by his colleagues a record five times as Mayor Pro Tem.
For more information on the Maher Maso Campaign, please call (214)546-1829 or visit www.MasoforMayor.com
###
For Immediate Release Contact: Kyle Tarrance
Ph: 214.546.1829
Email: andrea@masoformayor.com
COLLIN COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
ENDORSE MAHER MASO IN FRISCO MAYOR’S RACE
Maso honored to receive key endorsement
FRISCO, TX, APRIL 7, 2008 – The Maher Maso Campaign today announced the endorsement of the Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR) in the race for Frisco Mayor.
“We carefully evaluated both candidates and we believe Maher Maso is the best prepared to lead Frisco,” said Linda Taylor, Chair, CCAR’s Government Affairs Committee. “Maher has the right background and experience needed to carefully plan for our growth and expansion.”
“I am proud and deeply honored to have the support of such a great organization,” Maso said. “I support and commend their goals of protecting the real estate market and keeping home ownership affordable.”
Maher Maso moved to Frisco in 1992 with his wife, Val and 3 children. Since that time, Maher quickly established himself as a community leader through his tireless work in the civic and non-profit communities. Maher served on the Frisco City Council for seven years, and was appointed by his colleagues a record five times as Mayor Pro Tem.
For more information on the Maher Maso Campaign, please call (214)546-1829 or visit www.MasoforMayor.com
###
Saturday, March 15, 2008
I am a Cancer Survivor
I wrote a welcome page for my personal page for the Relay for Life event in Frisco and I thought I would expand on it here. Besides my personal page, you can reach my team page HERE.
I am honored to be asked to be the honorary chair of this years Relay for Life - please join me in helping this great organization!
I am a Cancer Survivor
"I am a Cancer Survivor" is a simple sentence, but it was not something I would ever say or talk about. You see, I had cancer when I was very young. I think I was around 20 years old. That tells you a lot when I say I "think". It was something I erased from my memory. I never brought up. I would avoid discussion of the subject and would never share this part of my life with my friends.
With maturity and community service, I realized that having Cancer is not something to not be ashamed of. As I saw many friends battle this disease; some that did not make it and others who have won their battle, it finally became clear to me; Life needs celebrating.
Relay for Life is a time to celebrate life and to remember those we have lost. We are in this together. We can win this battle. By participating in Relay for Life, you are giving hope to those that may not see hope. You are helping revive dreams of those that have lost their dreams. You are coming together, with a team, to say we won't be quiet. We won't be embarrassed and we won't be ashamed. You are saying that I am personally going to do my part to help others. For that, I thank you! I know that the American Cancer Society thanks you and most of all; I know all those who have been touched by cancer thank you!
Please make a donation to me or join my team. You are helping deliver the hope that future generations will not have to endure cancer threatening the lives of their friends and family. You have the power to fight back against a disease that affects millions. To make a donation, visit my personal page at Relay for Life at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mahermaso. Please consider giving!
Sincerely,
Maher Maso
I am honored to be asked to be the honorary chair of this years Relay for Life - please join me in helping this great organization!
I am a Cancer Survivor
"I am a Cancer Survivor" is a simple sentence, but it was not something I would ever say or talk about. You see, I had cancer when I was very young. I think I was around 20 years old. That tells you a lot when I say I "think". It was something I erased from my memory. I never brought up. I would avoid discussion of the subject and would never share this part of my life with my friends.
With maturity and community service, I realized that having Cancer is not something to not be ashamed of. As I saw many friends battle this disease; some that did not make it and others who have won their battle, it finally became clear to me; Life needs celebrating.
Relay for Life is a time to celebrate life and to remember those we have lost. We are in this together. We can win this battle. By participating in Relay for Life, you are giving hope to those that may not see hope. You are helping revive dreams of those that have lost their dreams. You are coming together, with a team, to say we won't be quiet. We won't be embarrassed and we won't be ashamed. You are saying that I am personally going to do my part to help others. For that, I thank you! I know that the American Cancer Society thanks you and most of all; I know all those who have been touched by cancer thank you!
Please make a donation to me or join my team. You are helping deliver the hope that future generations will not have to endure cancer threatening the lives of their friends and family. You have the power to fight back against a disease that affects millions. To make a donation, visit my personal page at Relay for Life at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mahermaso. Please consider giving!
Sincerely,
Maher Maso
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Busy Saturday (or how would I do it without my wife?)
You know, sometimes I don't give Val enough credit. Val, my wife of 18+ years, has been the rock-solid wall behind everything I do. She has been my support system that has allowed me to do all the things that I have done. Val is no slouch with community service either; she has served on the board of Plano Symphony Orchestra as well as served in the PTA, Frisco Family Services and Frisco Association for the Arts committees and as well as a room Mom for our children over the years. She has also been through the Frisco Citizen's police and fire academy and served on the Frisco Citizens on Patrol program. She understands Frisco issues as well as anyone else!
Many of you know I am finishing my Masters program at UTA and today was class day. So Val attended the Congressman Sam Johnson reception at a home in Chapel Creek on my behalf. Congressman Johnson has not only been a friend to Frisco and has served our Country so well, he is a friend to Val and I. Brandon, our son, is on the Sam Johnson youth advisory committee and I have enjoyed watching him grow in that program. Of course it is no surprise that I support Congressman Sam Johnson for re-election, so please vote on March 4th and continue to support that man that has served our military, paid a heavy price as a POW to protect our freedom and is now serving our Country as a Congressman.
Many of you know I am finishing my Masters program at UTA and today was class day. So Val attended the Congressman Sam Johnson reception at a home in Chapel Creek on my behalf. Congressman Johnson has not only been a friend to Frisco and has served our Country so well, he is a friend to Val and I. Brandon, our son, is on the Sam Johnson youth advisory committee and I have enjoyed watching him grow in that program. Of course it is no surprise that I support Congressman Sam Johnson for re-election, so please vote on March 4th and continue to support that man that has served our military, paid a heavy price as a POW to protect our freedom and is now serving our Country as a Congressman.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
1st Annual African American History Celebration
I had the opportunity to attend the 1st African American history celebration at Centennial High School today. There was a slight mix-up in the start time; I thought it was 10AM and they had actually started at 9:00AM. When I arrived at 9:45, the program was in progress. Our City Manager, George Purefoy and his wife Debra, were in attendance as well as our City Secretary, Nan Parker. Also, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Joy West was also present from the Council.
Shana McKay Wortham from Frisco ISD spoke which was followed up by an awards presentation. Congratulations are in order to the following persons and organizations:
Shana McKay Wortham from Frisco ISD spoke which was followed up by an awards presentation. Congratulations are in order to the following persons and organizations:
- Frisco Resident & Historian Bro. Jimmy Jones
- Frisco Residents of Color
- Todrick & Monica Johnson, Owners of Epitome Magazine
- Jake & Vinita Reed, owners of Frisco Thunder Arena Football Team
- Bob & Andree King, owners of Farmers Insurance Agency in Frisco Square
- Pastor Hugene & June Purdy, Trinity Resource & Ministries Coaching
- Dr. Bryan Bullitt, Frisco Chiropractic
- pastor Arthur Maxwell, Himilton Chapel Baptist Church
- George Purefoy, City Manager, City of Frisco
Friday, February 22, 2008
Chambe of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon
If you have never attended the Frisco Chamber of Commerce quarterly luncheon, you should make the time to do so. The room is always filled with local elected leaders and business people.
A
aron Demerson, Executive Director of the office of Governor- Texas Economic development and Tourism, was the guest speaker. I had met and gotten to know Aaron in 2007 when I spent the day with Texas One at Texas Stadium. Aaron is a great Representative of Texas.
aron Demerson, Executive Director of the office of Governor- Texas Economic development and Tourism, was the guest speaker. I had met and gotten to know Aaron in 2007 when I spent the day with Texas One at Texas Stadium. Aaron is a great Representative of Texas. Aaron discussed the Texas One program and shared some of the economic data of the business community in Texas. I introduced some friends to Aaron and I was happy to see that he already was close friends with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce President, John Land. Our very own Scott Johnson, who is a candidate for the Frisco City Council this year also serves on the board of the Texas Economic Development Corporation. All in all, a great day!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Frisco Rotary
I was invited by a friend to attend the Frisco Rotary, which I have done on several previous occasions. I always enjoy a good lunch with my friends, but this day was even more special. Several guests attended including the main speaker, State Representative Ken Paxton.
Representative Paxton did a great job bringing the audience up to speed on upcoming State issues, including the complex TxDOT review, appraisal caps, education and many other things. Ken is always a pleasure to listen to as he is a wealth of information and 
he is always working hard to represent our City. Next time you see Representative Paxton, thank him for his efforts on our behalf.
he is always working hard to represent our City. Next time you see Representative Paxton, thank him for his efforts on our behalf. It was also a pleasure seeing Congressman Sam Johnson at the same luncheon. Congressman Sam Johnson is a great role model for our community. I have had the pleasure of spending a considerable amount of time with Congressman Johnson and his wife, Shirley, over the last seven years. We are very fortunate having him serve us and our Country. Sam has sacrificed so much for our Country, from serving in the military, being a POW and now as a Congressman.
Thanks are in order to DBU for hosting the Rotary every month. Dallas Baptist University is another class act that adds to the family atmosphere and ethical leadership in Frisco.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Collin County Community College
For this entry, I thought I would touch on Collin County Community College, or as we call it, Collin College. Frisco is a successful city because of the partners we have to help build our community. Collin College is a key partner in many of the things we do. Not only does Collin College provide an education for our citizens, but they also participate in several city programs including the Tax Increment Finance District, which has helped build Stonebriar Mall, Pizza Hut Park, DR Pepper/Stars Center and helped keep our property taxes low.
I serve on the Collin County Community College Education Foundation which helps provide scholarships for students. With over 40,000 students and 100 degree and certification programs, Collin College is a very important educational institution. I serve on the board and also on the executive committee as the secretary of the organization along with several community leaders. I am very lucky to have the honor of serving with this board of very experienced community leaders and volunteers. We are always looking for new donors and board members to help provide scholarships - we always have more scholarship requests than funds to meet it. Please consider becoming part of the team!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Worldcamp Dallas 2008
While attending the City Council meeting tonight, I heard about an interesting conference that is being held at City Hall in the Council Chambers. John Pozadzides gave a presentation about the conference he would like to bring. For all you bloggers out there, this is probably an interesting event to attend held right here in our City.
You can get additional at John's blog at http://onemansblog.com or the official web site at http://wordcampdallas2008.eventbrite.com/.
All you WordPress users may want to check this one out.
You can get additional at John's blog at http://onemansblog.com or the official web site at http://wordcampdallas2008.eventbrite.com/.
All you WordPress users may want to check this one out.
Coffee with "The Maher"
The first "official" coffee with "The Maher" went really well. Le Peep was relatively slow that morning and only three tables had people having breakfast. However, it turned out that I knew all three tables. So, after saying hi to everyone, we were well into our 7:30-8:30 time.
I am looking forward to meeting even more citizens as we continue our campaign. I am hoping to see some new faces in the coming weeks, so please do not be shy. This is very informal, just bring yourself and I will provide the coffee and muffins. If you have specific questions or just want to talk about Frisco, everything is on the table! Let's discuss infrastructure, schools, taxes, city government, transportation issues, rail, zoning or anything else you would like.
Time: 7:30-8:30AM
When: Every Monday morning
Where: Le Peep Restaurant at the South West corner of Stonebrook and Preston Road.
I am looking forward to meeting even more citizens as we continue our campaign. I am hoping to see some new faces in the coming weeks, so please do not be shy. This is very informal, just bring yourself and I will provide the coffee and muffins. If you have specific questions or just want to talk about Frisco, everything is on the table! Let's discuss infrastructure, schools, taxes, city government, transportation issues, rail, zoning or anything else you would like.
Time: 7:30-8:30AM
When: Every Monday morning
Where: Le Peep Restaurant at the South West corner of Stonebrook and Preston Road.
Daddy/Daughter Dance
This is one event my 9-year old daughter, Layna, thinks about all year long. She will usually bring it up at least once a month if not more often and always ask if it is getting close. I can't recall how many I have been to, but I think I attended it the very first year it was held!
If you have never been to one of these, it is hard to put it in words. If I were to try; one of those words would be "amazing". Everything about the Daddy/Daughter dance is "amazing". It has grown to be the largest one in the Country (yes, I said Country). I remember having to wait in line 6 or 7 years ago at 8AM just to get tickets and back then, it sold out quickly. Of course, sold out meant about 500 tickets and it was held at Frisco High School.
Well, it has expanded just a little bit. Now, four dances are held on a Saturday, starting at 2PM. Approximately 5,500 dads and daughters attended this year and some came from as far away as California and Houston. Amazing!
If you tried to go to dinner on Saturday, you probably saw a whle bunch of little princesses, not mention having a long wait for seats. You see, part of the tradition is taking your princess to dinner either before or after the dance.
This year was a little bit tricky. Collin College Education Foundation, where I serve as a board member, was holding their annual fundraiser, Collin Cabaret, at the same evening and the same location (The Frisco Convention Center). And no, I didn't even consider skipping the Daddy/Daughter dance - it was not an option knowing how much Layna was looking forward to an evenin out on a date with her dad. Val to the rescue!!! Val and our friend, Terri Green, attended for me and they were able to enjoy the show while Layna and I were tearing up the dance floor right next door.
The dance ended at 9:30PM and Layna had the opportunity to mingle with some adults at the cabaret as we caught the end of it. It was important to support the College as they provide so many scholarships to those that really need it.
Layna and I really enjoyed the evening. We started out with dinner at Macroni Grill in Frisco with 4 other fathers and their daughters. The young ladies were all very beautiful and excited to be going to the dance. After a great dinner, we left for the last dance of the evening at 8PM. We won't talk about my dancing abilities, so we will just skip right to the end; my favorite dance. Since it is a slow dance, I do just fine. In fact, I'm always afraid to look up because I don't really want to see grown men crying :-) In case you have not guessed it, the song is "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle [LYRICS].
All in all, one of my favorite evenings of the year.
If you have never been to one of these, it is hard to put it in words. If I were to try; one of those words would be "amazing". Everything about the Daddy/Daughter dance is "amazing". It has grown to be the largest one in the Country (yes, I said Country). I remember having to wait in line 6 or 7 years ago at 8AM just to get tickets and back then, it sold out quickly. Of course, sold out meant about 500 tickets and it was held at Frisco High School.
Well, it has expanded just a little bit. Now, four dances are held on a Saturday, starting at 2PM. Approximately 5,500 dads and daughters attended this year and some came from as far away as California and Houston. Amazing!
If you tried to go to dinner on Saturday, you probably saw a whle bunch of little princesses, not mention having a long wait for seats. You see, part of the tradition is taking your princess to dinner either before or after the dance.
This year was a little bit tricky. Collin College Education Foundation, where I serve as a board member, was holding their annual fundraiser, Collin Cabaret, at the same evening and the same location (The Frisco Convention Center). And no, I didn't even consider skipping the Daddy/Daughter dance - it was not an option knowing how much Layna was looking forward to an evenin out on a date with her dad. Val to the rescue!!! Val and our friend, Terri Green, attended for me and they were able to enjoy the show while Layna and I were tearing up the dance floor right next door.
The dance ended at 9:30PM and Layna had the opportunity to mingle with some adults at the cabaret as we caught the end of it. It was important to support the College as they provide so many scholarships to those that really need it.
Layna and I really enjoyed the evening. We started out with dinner at Macroni Grill in Frisco with 4 other fathers and their daughters. The young ladies were all very beautiful and excited to be going to the dance. After a great dinner, we left for the last dance of the evening at 8PM. We won't talk about my dancing abilities, so we will just skip right to the end; my favorite dance. Since it is a slow dance, I do just fine. In fact, I'm always afraid to look up because I don't really want to see grown men crying :-) In case you have not guessed it, the song is "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle [LYRICS].
All in all, one of my favorite evenings of the year.
Proclamation Record
After having served on City Council for over seven years, I can factually say I have never seen so many proclamations at meeting as I have tonight. Mayor Mike Simpson nevers lowed down as he read each one and recognized every group. The Boy scouts and their many recognitions won hands down with numbers, but all the groups are to be commended. The council chambers were full with the friends and family members of those being recognized.
The record number of proclamations is an indicator of the type of community we live in. The quest for excellence and accomplishment is very telling of the type of citizens we have living in Frisco. What it is yet another Eagle Scout, or an award for community service; we are fortunate to live in Frisco.
A presentation was also given titled The Looming Transportation Crisis. The presentation discussed the age of our road system along with other transportation issues.
The record number of proclamations is an indicator of the type of community we live in. The quest for excellence and accomplishment is very telling of the type of citizens we have living in Frisco. What it is yet another Eagle Scout, or an award for community service; we are fortunate to live in Frisco.
A presentation was also given titled The Looming Transportation Crisis. The presentation discussed the age of our road system along with other transportation issues.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Newsletter Correction
The Friscofirst newsletter went out this morning and I am sure this Blog is getting a lot of previews since I mentioned it in there. A quick correction to the newsletter: The link to the Warren Harris web site is incorrect and did not work. Warren Harris can be found at http://www.warrenharris.net
The picture also did not work for some. Here it is:
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Coffee with "The Maher"
If you review my old blogs, you will note that I am meeting someone for coffee or lunch on an almost daily basis. A week or so ago, my campaign team and I discussed having a regular scheduled meet the candidate coffee on a weekly basis. Then we promptly put it on our CALENDAR
So, come on out to an informal "Coffee with The Maher" every Monday from 7:30-8:30AM at Le Peep at
The coffee is on me, just bring yourself and your questions/comments. Look for a sign on the table if you don't recognize me (here is a picture just in case!)
Continuing my years of being accessible to any citizen, I plan on making the "Coffee with The Maher" a permanent fixture in Frisco, except we will correct the spelling :-)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Maso files for Mayor press release
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
____________________________________________________
MAHER MASO FILES CAMPAIGN FOR FRISCO MAYOR
Former Mayor Pro Tem Seeks To Keep Frisco
A “Very Special Place To Raise A Family”
FRISCO, FEBRUARY 11, 2008 - Former Frisco Councilman & Mayor Pro Tem Maher Maso today filed his candidacy for Frisco Mayor for the election to be held May 10. Maso is seeking to replace his longtime friend and current Mayor Mike Simpson who is not seeking reelection due to term limits.
"I have a deep passion for Frisco and want to make sure our close-knit community continues to improve," said Maher. "I've worked with our Chamber of Commerce to grow our economy, helped our children as a volunteer coach and served on the City Council where I kept taxes low and fought for more state funds to reduce our traffic. Now I want to bring my enthusiasm to the Mayor's office."
"We all know Frisco is the best place to live, work and raise a family," added Maher. "As our Mayor, I will use my experience and energy to keep our community a very special place to raise a family."
Looking to get an early start on the campaign, Maher was waiting on the doorsteps of City Hall when it opened this morning, the first day candidates can file for office.
"My family is excited to start my campaign for Frisco Mayor," said Maher. "I can't wait to talk to our residents about my plans to reduce traffic, grow our economy, keep our taxes low and protect our families from violent crime."
Though it is early in the campaign, Maher has already received the endorsement of Senator Florence Shapiro, former Frisco Mayors Bob Warren and Harold Bacchus, former Frisco Councilmembers David Buck, Gary Downey, Mike Zapata and Kelly Doster, and former Planning & Zoning Chair Baxter Brinkmann.
Maher and his wife of almost two decades, Val, and their three children moved to Frisco in 1992. He was first elected to public office in 2000 and was re-elected in 2002 and 2004. Maher was the longest serving Mayor Pro Tem in Frisco, appointed by his colleagues five times from 2003 to 2007.
Maher was chosen as the Frisco Citizen of the Year in 2005 and one of the 21 for 21st Century leaders in 2004, which is given to
A more detailed resume of Maher's civic, business and elected experience is attached. For more information about the campaign, please call 469-556-2631 or visit www.masoformayor.com.
Maher Maso Biography
Education & Certifications
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, graduated with Honors. Executive MBA - Graduation in 2008 -
Boards and Commissions
Frisco City Council
- May 2000-June 2007
- Mayor Pro Tem, May 2003-June 2007 (5 appointments)
- Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, 2002-May 2003
- Chair of Budget & Audit sub-committee, 2003-June 2007
- Frisco Tax Increment Finance District Zone Board, 2000-June 2007
Collin County Community College District Education Foundation
- Mission Statement sub-committee Chair
- Audit sub-committee review member
- Executive Committee Member and Secretary, May 2007-Present
Frisco Public Library Foundation
- May 2007-Present
Frisco Square Management District (FSMMD)
- Board of Directors, May 2000-June 2007
Arts of Collin
- Commission Member & Vice-President, 2004-Present
- Treasurer, May 2003-2004
- Founding Steering Committee Member, 2002-2004
Frisco Association for the Arts
- Advisory Board, 2007-present
- President, 2005-2007
- Vice-President, 2002-2005
- Board of Directors, 2000-2007
- Member since 2000
Leadership Frisco
- Chairman of the Board, June 2003-2005
- Curriculum Committee Member, 1997-2005
- Facilitator & co-Facilitator, Regional Government Day, 2003-2007
- Facilitator, Local Government Day, 1999-2002
- Interview Committee, Class 1
Frisco ISD
- Technology Committee Member, 1997-present
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- Curtsinger Campus Committee, 1997
Collin County Council on Volunteerism
- Board of Directors, 2006-Present
Association of Mayors, Council Members & Commissioners (AMCC)
- 2006 Nominating Committee
2006 Relay for Life
- Honorary Chair, 2007
- Facilities committee, 2002-2003
- President, 1993-1995
Misc. Civic and Local Organizations
- YMCA Boys Basketball Coach, 2002-2003
- YMCA Girls Basketball Coach, 1998-2003
- YMCA Girls Basketball Assistant Coach, 2006-present
- Frisco Baseball/Softball Association Coach, 1997-1999
- Frisco Baseball/Softball Association, Assistant Coach, 2005-2006
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Memberships
- Heritage Association of Frisco
- Frisco Association for the Arts
- American Planning Association
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- Frisco Chamber of Commerce
Awards and Recognitions
- Frisco Citizen of the Year, 2005
- Voted one of the 21 for the 21st century leaders in
- 7-year recipient of recognition for continuing education from the Texas Municipal League with 350+ hours, 2000-2007
- Accepted 5-year award on behalf of Frisco from TML for 5 consecutive years of continuing education
- Awarded Proclamation of Outstanding Service by Mayors of Allen,
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- Certificate of appreciation, Stonebriar Village Neighborhood Committee, 2007
Ready for the Rain?
Because it is coming our way... I will never complain about the rain in Texas, especially after the drought we went through recently. I am quickly trying to get my outdoor things done before it comes.
Several exciting things are taking place in the campaign. First, you have probably already seen the press
release about being the first to file for Mayor. If not, I will post it here. My campaign Manager, Andrea Wright, her daughter and her Mom, Rosa Cross, all joined me as we waited for the doors to open at City Hall.
It was exciting to take the oath (picture on left) as I submitted my
application. Leading a city of over 100,000, which we will shortly be, is a job that I take very seriously. I am honored that so many have placed their trust in my candidacy and I will work very hard to be your public servant.
I rushed from City hall to meet a citizen for a coffee to discuss several issues. As always, I enjoyed the meeting. The "short" meeting, which really was about an hour and a half long rolled right into another lunch-time meeting with a Frisco resident. Now you know why I have gained some weight :-) I really do enjoy enjoy meeting with our citizens as it is a great opportunity to offer insight about our city and also learn from the wealth of knowledge in our community.
On a personal note, Brandon, my son, took his written exam for his private pilot license. He recently turned 17 and has enough hours to receive his certification. That alone made my day a very happy day. Brandon recently flew his first cross-country solo flight and wrote about it. When I have a minute, I will place it on this blog. For now, you can find it here: http://www.group3txwing.org/content/0802/newsletter0802.htm (it is about 1/2 down the page, just search for Brandon Maso).
Several exciting things are taking place in the campaign. First, you have probably already seen the press
release about being the first to file for Mayor. If not, I will post it here. My campaign Manager, Andrea Wright, her daughter and her Mom, Rosa Cross, all joined me as we waited for the doors to open at City Hall.It was exciting to take the oath (picture on left) as I submitted my
application. Leading a city of over 100,000, which we will shortly be, is a job that I take very seriously. I am honored that so many have placed their trust in my candidacy and I will work very hard to be your public servant.I rushed from City hall to meet a citizen for a coffee to discuss several issues. As always, I enjoyed the meeting. The "short" meeting, which really was about an hour and a half long rolled right into another lunch-time meeting with a Frisco resident. Now you know why I have gained some weight :-) I really do enjoy enjoy meeting with our citizens as it is a great opportunity to offer insight about our city and also learn from the wealth of knowledge in our community.
On a personal note, Brandon, my son, took his written exam for his private pilot license. He recently turned 17 and has enough hours to receive his certification. That alone made my day a very happy day. Brandon recently flew his first cross-country solo flight and wrote about it. When I have a minute, I will place it on this blog. For now, you can find it here: http://www.group3txwing.org/content/0802/newsletter0802.htm (it is about 1/2 down the page, just search for Brandon Maso).
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Leadership Frisco
Friday, February 8th, was a day that I was looking forward to for the last several months. I have been involved in the Leadership Frisco program since the first year when I served on the original curriculum and applications committee. Every since that first year, I have been involved in some form or fashon with this outstanding program that is sponsored by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. Besides serving on the curriculum committee over the years, I also served as Chair of Leadership Frisco for two years.
Friday was the culminiation of working on the agenda over the last several months. With received feedback from last years class; we wanted to change things up a bit. The day was really about regionalism and learning about the partners around us. The new format worked really well! First; we met at the Embassy Suites for the ride to the City of Prosper. Little did the class members know that I would have them as a captive audience in the van ride to Prosper! I think some of them were planning on taking a nap on the way since we left early; but I never pass up an opportunity to help educate :-)
On a serious note, I really enjoyed it. I think we touched on just about every part of city operation. The class has some very good questions and before we knew it, we were in Prosper. The Prosper presentation was outstanding as the class members learned about the issues that a small town has to deal with. It was not that long ago that Frisco was that size (in fact, I was here, in 1992, we were approximately 6500 population). The also learned about how much that Prosper and Frisco work together.
From there, we packed back into the van for the drive to Plano city hall. Yep, you guessed it, another opportunity to "present" to the class. I should call it the rolling presentation :-)
Plano was an oustanding venue for the class to learn about the challenges that a mature city faces. City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck and Mayor Pro Tem Sally Magnuson presented to the class and they realy enjoyed it, especially the question and answer session. The class was able to see Tom's passion for Plano.
From there, we boarded the bus again (yep, more presentation by yours truley) for a trip to NTTA headquarters. We met in the board room and had lunch served. We didn't slow down though, NTTA gave a presenation, which is always one of my favorites. The behind the scenes in operating the tollway is always interesting. DCTA (Denton County Trasportation Authority) also came to present followed by HTNB, a country-wide engineering firm that excels on transportations.
This is getting long, so I will end it here. The whirl-wind tour was a big success. If you are interested in the Leadership Frisco program, contact the Frisco Chamber of Commerce (or you can e-mail me and I can put you in touch with the right person).
Class 11 of Leadership Frisco should be commended for making this committment to learn about their community:
Bill Blitt
Heather Bowers
Bart Crowder
Dustin Donley
Lisa Kalka
Marc Kirkland
John Land
Kevin Lofgren
Rhonda Martin
Millicent Mayaka
Jose Monzon
Lawanda Penland
Will Russell
Michael Rodgers
Olga Simmons
Also, my gratitude, on behalf of Leadership Frisco, to The City of Plano, Town of Prosper, NTTA, DCTA, HNTB and the Embassy Suites.
Friday was the culminiation of working on the agenda over the last several months. With received feedback from last years class; we wanted to change things up a bit. The day was really about regionalism and learning about the partners around us. The new format worked really well! First; we met at the Embassy Suites for the ride to the City of Prosper. Little did the class members know that I would have them as a captive audience in the van ride to Prosper! I think some of them were planning on taking a nap on the way since we left early; but I never pass up an opportunity to help educate :-)
On a serious note, I really enjoyed it. I think we touched on just about every part of city operation. The class has some very good questions and before we knew it, we were in Prosper. The Prosper presentation was outstanding as the class members learned about the issues that a small town has to deal with. It was not that long ago that Frisco was that size (in fact, I was here, in 1992, we were approximately 6500 population). The also learned about how much that Prosper and Frisco work together.
From there, we packed back into the van for the drive to Plano city hall. Yep, you guessed it, another opportunity to "present" to the class. I should call it the rolling presentation :-)
Plano was an oustanding venue for the class to learn about the challenges that a mature city faces. City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck and Mayor Pro Tem Sally Magnuson presented to the class and they realy enjoyed it, especially the question and answer session. The class was able to see Tom's passion for Plano.
From there, we boarded the bus again (yep, more presentation by yours truley) for a trip to NTTA headquarters. We met in the board room and had lunch served. We didn't slow down though, NTTA gave a presenation, which is always one of my favorites. The behind the scenes in operating the tollway is always interesting. DCTA (Denton County Trasportation Authority) also came to present followed by HTNB, a country-wide engineering firm that excels on transportations.
This is getting long, so I will end it here. The whirl-wind tour was a big success. If you are interested in the Leadership Frisco program, contact the Frisco Chamber of Commerce (or you can e-mail me and I can put you in touch with the right person).
Class 11 of Leadership Frisco should be commended for making this committment to learn about their community:
Bill Blitt
Heather Bowers
Bart Crowder
Dustin Donley
Lisa Kalka
Marc Kirkland
John Land
Kevin Lofgren
Rhonda Martin
Millicent Mayaka
Jose Monzon
Lawanda Penland
Will Russell
Michael Rodgers
Olga Simmons
Also, my gratitude, on behalf of Leadership Frisco, to The City of Plano, Town of Prosper, NTTA, DCTA, HNTB and the Embassy Suites.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
A very busy Wednesday
It's days like this that make you want to clone yourself!
The day started out early as I headed over to Robertson Elementary in the Frisco ISD. I will never get used to how many schools we have in Frisco. When I moved here in 1992, we had one elementary, one middle-school and one high school. I lost count of how many we have now long ago! What is interesting is Robertson is in Little Elm and I had one heck of a time finding it!
The Staff at the school obviously love what they do. Special thanks are in order for Principal James Iorio and first grade teacher Nora Davis. Mr. Iorio obviously knows how to run a school; everyone was very friendly and the students were well-behaved. Mrs. Davis helped set up the presentation and made it very easy for me. I had the opportunity to give two presentations about governments and what it was like to serve on the City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem. One presentation was to the first graders and one was to the fourth graders. It is always interesting to see the different kind of questions you get (and boy did they have lots of them)! There is nothing like speaking to elementary students to get you ready for the rest of the day.
From there, the Wednesday roll continued. After leaving Robertson, I headed over to Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q. If you have not eaten there yet, give it a shot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I had a lunch-time meeting with the
Candidate Debate and Batch Plants
What do these two have in common? Nothing besides the fact that I had to be at both places at the same time !! Thanks to the Frisco Chamber of Commerce; a debate was held for the Collin and Denton County Commissioners races. The debate started at 6:00PM and first up were the
I was able to stay for a good portion of that debate and had to leave before the
A quick (very quick) background: What we are talking about are the batch plants on S.H. 121. The City has been working with Turnbridge Manor and
This specific meeting was asked for by the City and George Purefoy and Richard Abernathy, City Attorney, were in attendance. Turnbridge Manor and
Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Jim Joyner and Council Member Jeff Cheney came in towards the end of the meeting (it was mad dash from the campaign debates) and interacted with the homeowners. I want to again thank them for their dedication!
That's it for busy Wednesday. I think I got home around 10:00PM, but who knows.. you lose track on those busy days!
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